Insurance Companies Ready To Deploy Catastrophe Teams For Hurricane Harvey

Aug. 25--As government officials and businesses prepare for Hurricane Harvey, insurance agents are asking homeowners to have their insurance policy numbers ready and to prepare for the worst.

The National Weather Service has predicted Hurricane Harvey will make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, pouring down inches of rain and wreaking havoc with wind speeds up to 115 mph. Victoria's insurance agents are asking homeowners to prepare for the storm in addition to bracing for its aftermath.

Jane Schulz, who works for Faith Alliance Insurance Brokers, said homeowners should start by photographing their belongings and homes in case they need to file a claim. If residents plan to evacuate, they should also grab whatever receipts they have for their belongings, she said.

"We're going to need proof of what contents you own to claim that," said Schulz.

Ryan Stahl, who works for Atzenhoffer Insurance Agency, said residents should board up windows and block doors with sandbags if possible. But most importantly, residents should secure anything that could be blown into the air, which could hurt both people and their homes, he said.

If the hurricane does impact the area, insurance companies will deploy catastrophe response teams to the area to help people with their claims, he said. His company will also be checking emails and social media frequently if residents ask for help.

But even though residents may fear for their homes, they should put their own safety first and evacuate if needed, Stahl said.

"Lives can't be replaced," he said. "Our belongings can."

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