The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is reminding all business owners impacted by Hurricane Ida that the agency is here to help.
SBS recommends the following immediate next steps:
– If you or others are facing immediate danger, please call 911.
– Determine whether you have access to your space, assess any damage and consider the following:
– Will you be able to conduct business in the near-term?
– Are your employees impacted and/or can they can travel to the work site?
– What insurance do you have, and do you have access to the records needed to file a claim?
– Carefully review the post-loss insurance tips below
If you need additional support from an emergency response professional to assess your space and your specific business needs, call NYC Department of Small Business Services hotline at 888-SBS-4NYC (888-727-4692).
Post-loss insurance tips:
– Immediately contact your insurance company or broker/agent.
– Carefully read your insurance policy to understand what losses are covered.
– Take photographs or a video of the damaged areas and assets to help with your claim.
– Don’t remove any damaged property until the insurance adjuster has assessed the damage and made an official report.
– Make only those repairs necessary to prevent any further damage; if you make permanent repairs unauthorized by the insurance company, they may not be covered.
– Keep all receipts for repairs and temporary business expenses.
– To help establish the value of your claim, prepare a detailed inventory of all damaged or destroyed property (item, quantity, date of purchase, cost at purchase, age, and estimated replacement cost), along with your pre-loss photographs.
– Accompany the adjuster to point out damage during the inspection.
– If the settlement offered by the insurance company seems unfair, contact the New York State Insurance Department by visiting www.dfs.ny.gov.
– If the insurance company denies any part of your claim, get the denial in writing, and keep copies.
– Always contact your insurance company and claims adjuster any time you find additional damage not previously reported.
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