Tornadoes and other severe weather cuts across nation

The Memorial Day weekend and the early part of the following week brought severe weather to large swatches of the middle U.S. including Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio and Kansas.

Teams respond to help customers

American Family Insurance agents and claims teams are responding to help thousands of customers hit by severe weather across numerous states during the past several days. The latest round of spring storms started last Thursday when tornadoes hit Jefferson City and other parts of Missouri. To date, American Family has more than 250 claims from that storm system including several homes severely damaged by tornadoes.Throughout the holiday weekend, several storms, including tornadoes, wind and hail hit Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska and Ohio. American Family is responding to customers with claims in all these states.

Catastrophe claims teams were immediately dispatched to the Indianapolis, Indiana, Omaha, Nebraska and Dayton, Ohio regions where claim volume from the weekend storms is expected to steadily rise.

American Family has also sent a catastrophe team and vehicle to Kansas to respond to customers in Linwood and Lawrence counties who suffered damage from storms and tornadoes that occurred the following Tuesday, May 28. As of Wednesday afternoon, American Family had received approximately 120 cliaims, including 20 for homes with severe damage, with reports of multiple homes destroyed. Adjusters began meeting with those customers on Wednesday.

Report claims immediately

Customers with damage should report their claims as soon as possible – by phone at 800-MYAMFAM (692-6326), online at amfam.com/claims or through their insurance agent.

Customers can also file their auto hail damage claims and their property hail or wind damage claims by texting the word “STORM” to 26326 (AMFAM). Please note that message and data rates may apply. Using this channel may reduce customer wait time and decrease time reporting the claim.

American Family Insurance adjusters and agents will work with customers affected by these devastating storms for as long as it takes to get them on the road to recovery.

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

What damages to my property might be covered?

Your homeowners insurance policy provides coverage for damage to your home and personal property caused by wind/tornado, hail, fire and smoke.

Can I get an emergency advance payment?

Yes. If you have a covered loss and need emergency funds, we can provide you an advance payment. This advance payment will be applied to your final claim settlement.

Does my policy have coverage for boarding pets?

Yes, your homeowners policy covers the cost of temporarily boarding domestic pets, other than livestock, if civil authorities prohibit access to your home. Keep copies of the receipts for your adjuster.

Can I start to make repairs to prevent further damage?

You should protect your property immediately against further damage and theft. Use plywood, tarps or other materials to cover broken windows and damaged rooftops. Keep the receipts of any materials/services that you purchase to make these repairs so your adjuster can review them and reimburse you for expenses covered by your policy.

Do I have coverage to replace damaged trees or remove tree debris caused by the storm?

Homeowners insurance generally does not cover damage to trees or the removal of tree debris from the property. If a tree has fallen on your home and caused damage, however, we pay to cut away that part of the tree so repairs can be made; most policies pay up to $500 for removing that part of the tree from the property. Check your policy for specific coverage.

The storm caused a neighbor's tree to fall on my house? Whose insurance company should I report my claim to - the neighbor's or mine?

Report the claim to American Family Insurance. Since the cause of damage was an act of nature, your insurance policy applies. If the roles were reversed and a tree from your property fell on your neighbor's home, the neighbor's insurance policy would apply.

How will the inspection process work?

If your home has sustained damage, an adjuster will contact you at one of the phone numbers you provided when you reported your claim. The two of you will schedule an inspection of your home, after which the adjuster will develop an estimate and issue payment for repairs covered by your policy.

Who do I call to make repairs?

You are free to select any contractor (home) or repair shop (auto) you wish. It is usually best to select one who has operated in the area for several years, is insured and bonded and gives you a written guarantee for the work performed.

About American Family Insurance
Madison, Wisconsin-based American Family Insurance group is the nation's 13th-largest property/casualty insurance group and ranks No. 306 on the Fortune 500 list. The company sells American Family-brand products, including auto, homeowners, life, business and farm/ranch insurance, primarily through its exclusive agents in 19 states. American Family affiliates (The General and Homesite) also provide options for consumers who want to manage their insurance matters directly over the internet or by phone. Affiliate Main Street America sells insurance products through independent agents. Web www.amfam.com; Facebook www.facebook.com/amfam; Twitter www.twitter.com/amfam.