Mississippi averages more than 40 tornadoes a year. Tornadoes are one of the state's most significant natural disasters. You never know when a disaster will strike, so knowing how to stay safe during a tornado and what coverage you have as a Mississippi homeowner can help you be prepared long before something may happen.

Whether you have questions about preparing for a tornado or your insurance coverage, a Mississippi independent insurance agent can help. Agents can review your existing coverages, add new policies, and make sure you're protected. Here's how to stay safe and steps to take immediately after a tornado. 

What Should You Do After a Tornado Strikes? 

Tornadoes cause millions of dollars in damage every year across the US. Immediately following a tornado, your safety and the safety of your family members is a top priority. Once you know everyone is safe and the storm has passed, you can follow these steps to start rebuilding your life and your home if there's been damage.

Step 1: Keep yourself and your family safe

When it comes to potentially catastrophic events, personal safety always comes first. Immediately assess the health of yourself and your family. People may be caught in debris or suffer injuries. In this event, you want to call 911 for assistance. Never move an injured person unless they're in danger. 

It's also important to be cautious of your surroundings and the damage that the storm could have caused. Broken gas lines, exposed nails, unstable structures, and downed wires can all be dangerous if you're moving around your property. It's best not to operate any electronics or turn any switches on or off until the fire department or other professionals have completely cleared the area. 

Lastly, keep an ear on EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, and local authorities for updated information on the storm. Tornadoes often appear in clusters, so more could be coming. 

Step 2: Assess your property and protect it where you can

If you did not get the chance to protect your property before the tornado hit, you might be able to do it now to prevent any further damage. If it's safe to do so, adjust the following:

Step 3: Document the damage with photos and videos

You may be reporting significant damage to your insurance company. Your home insurance will cover damage to the structure of your home, including your garage and detached structures, in addition to your personal belongings and even some of your landscaping. If you have comprehensive coverage, your car insurance will cover damage to your vehicle. 

While the insurance company will send someone out to assess the damage, they may ask you for any photos or videos you have as well. Document all of the damage as thoroughly as possible so that you can make sure that you get a payout for all the damage.

Step 4: Let others know you are safe

Now that you've secured your safety, checked on your property, and assessed the damage to your home, you can begin to notify friends and family that you're okay. Social media makes it easy to mark yourself safe after a significant disaster. This is typically the quickest way to let people know you're okay, since phone and internet service could be down.

Step 5: Start the insurance claim process

If there is significant damage, it's time to start the insurance claim process. You can call your Mississippi independent insurance agent to get the process going. They can guide you in the next steps, including contacting your insurance company. 

The insurance company will need a variety of information from you. To keep things going as smoothly as possible, be prepared to provide them with whatever they ask for in a timely manner. They'll want to send a claims adjuster to visit your property and inspect the damage. You'll come to an agreement with the claims adjuster and the insurance company on the amount of the claim. 

Note that significant catastrophic events can delay the insurance company's response. While insurance companies are obligated to respond to claims within a specific time period if they're dealing with hundreds or even thousands of impacted homes, it will take longer than if there's just a handful. 

Step 6: Start rebuilding your home

Once you've reached an agreement with the insurance company on the amount of your claim, you can begin working with contractors to make repairs. Most contractors will start with emergency repairs and permanent repairs. You never want to start repairing anything until you have the go-ahead from your insurance company.  If you fix something before it's been accepted by insurance, you risk not getting reimbursed. 

If the damage to your home has made it uninhabitable, an agent can help you receive temporary housing. It's essential to keep records of every transaction made during the repair stage, from discussions with contractors to purchase receipts and even photos of repairs in process. This can all come in handy if there is an issue with insurance covering any repairs. 

How Does Home Insurance Cover Tornadoes in Mississippi?

There are three main types of coverage in home insurance that pay for damage and destruction after a Mississippi tornado. 

• Dwelling insurance: Covers the structure of the home itself, including built-in appliances, heating and cooling systems, porches, decks, and garages. Coverage often extends to detached structures as well, such as sheds. 
• Contents insurance: Covers personal items stored within the home and external storage units. Contents insurance includes your personal belongings like furniture, clothing, electronics, collectibles, rugs, etc.
• Additional living expenses: Additional living expenses cover the difference in spending to maintain your normal lifestyle while living away from home. It covers living expenses if your home gets badly damaged or destroyed by a tornado and you have to live somewhere else. Your insurance company provides reimbursement for things like hotel rooms, eating out, extra gas mileage, and more. 

What about My Damaged Car?

Home insurance will not extend to your vehicle, so you would need to file a claim through your auto insurance for vehicle damage coverage. You also need comprehensive coverage, also known as "other than collision," to be covered for a tornado.

Comprehensive coverage is not required by law in Mississippi, so you can work with your independent insurance agent to secure this coverage if you feel you need it. 

How Can a Mississippi Independent Insurance Agent Help?

A tornado can wipe out your home and all of your valuables in a matter of minutes. Mother Nature can never be controlled, but you can control having protection in place before an event occurs and knowing what to do after disaster strikes. A Mississippi independent insurance agent can help you with both of these things.

Whether you need new coverage or want to review your existing policy, an agent can help. Having an agent in your corner makes the claim process more manageable, because they know the exact steps you need to take after a tornado strikes. Find a local agent in your area today.