Does insurance pay for storm damage repair services like tarping and water removal?
Short answer. Usually yes, when the underlying storm damage is covered. Homeowners policies require you to protect the property from further damage and generally reimburse reasonable emergency services such as tarping, board up, water extraction and drying, along with tree removal within policy limits. Keep itemized invoices and photos, and be wary of inflated emergency bills.
Services typically paid on a covered claim
- Emergency tarping of a roof opening.
- Board up of broken windows and doors.
- Water extraction and drying: pumps, fans, dehumidifiers, and removal of soaked drywall and insulation.
- Tree removal from the house, and limited hauling of fallen trees.
- Moving and storing contents during repairs.
- The permanent repairs to roof, siding, interior and other structures.
What reasonable means
Insurers pay reasonable, necessary costs. Emergency invoices far above local market rates, or drying equipment left running for weeks without moisture readings, can be cut. Ask any emergency vendor for a written price before work starts and for daily moisture logs on drying jobs.
Paperwork to keep
- Before and after photos of each emergency step.
- Itemized invoices showing labor, materials and equipment days.
- Moisture readings for drying jobs.
- Damaged materials, or photos of them before disposal.
Watch what you sign
Emergency vendors sometimes present work authorizations that assign your insurance benefits to them. Georgia restricts contractors from taking an assignment of proceeds within a year of a declared disaster, so read any form carefully. See assignment of benefits and your duty to mitigate.