Insurance tips from 7 On Your Side to protect your home before the next weather emergency

NORTH PLAINFIELD, New Jersey (WABC) -- As the Tri-State area gears up for another round of potential flooding rain, knowing that you have the right insurance for your home is vital.

7 On Your Side has tips to understand if you are properly covered and to get the most out of your insurance claim.

Earlier this month, relentless rain in North Plainfield washed out foundations, flooded basements and caused thousands of dollars in damage.

So what can you do to get ready for the next disaster? 7 On Your Side asked an expert who has helped viewers with everything from devastating fires, home collapses and floods on how to get prepared.

Phil Maltaghati is with United Public Adjusters and he advocates for homeowners throughout the insurance claim process and says having a detailed inventory of losses will help with a settlement.

He says to walk through your home with a camera and save a room-to-room video of contents -- and make sure to narrate everything.

"Take a lot of photos and video so when the insurance company comes to you and you're working on your inventory, you at least have your documentation that you actually had those possessions at the time they were lost," Maltaghati said.

Next, make sure to review your policy. Damage from a flood is usually not covered unless you have a specific flood insurance policy.

But exactly how your property was impacted will make a difference.

"How the water came in is very important, if the water came through the roof, and you have a homeowner's policy, you may have coverage for roof seepage, if the water came outside of your house through the foundation, you may not have coverage, it depends if you have flood insurance or not," Maltaghati said. "If the water came through a drain in the floor, you may have sump pump coverage or drain overflow coverage, so three different things can happen at the same time and whether you have the right insurance, that 's another question."

He also says make sure to read your policy, some can be hundreds of pages, but little fine details can provide extra coverage which allows extra money for damages.

In our area, flood insurance is pretty pricey. It will cost about $1,000 a year, but with the risks becoming greater every year, it may be worth the investment.

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