Damage Assessment

• Damage assessment should be one of your first first tasks after gaining access to your business.
• Depending on the size of your business you might consider establishing a response and recovery team to do the damage assessment as well as other post hurricane functions.
• The results of the damage assessment should be communicated to your insurance company as soon as possible.
• You and/or members of your response and recovery team should be trained in adavance to conduct damage assessments.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Contact your insurance company.
• Take photos or videotape the damage.
• Account for all damage-related costs.
• Conduct salvage operations. Separate damaged from undamaged property
• Take an inventory of damaged property (damaged property and goods should be kept on hand until the insurance adjuster assesses the damage).
• Assess the value of the damaged property and the financial impact of your business interruption.
• Protect undamaged property by making temporary repairs (see Protection of Salvageable Assets).
• Keep a log of critical events indicating who did what, when, why and how.
• Keep detailed records of all expenditures.

Where can I get information or training I or my response team should have?

The first source you should consider for training is your insurance company. Many insurance companies have programs covering disaster preparedness and damage assessment.

Hurricane Planning Directory: