The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) is offering vital information for residents affected by Hurricane Helene’s path through Tennessee. TDCI Commissioner Carter Lawrence has advocated for a 60-day grace period on insurance policy cancellations due to nonpayment, alongside other supportive measures outlined in a newly issued insurance bulletin, which is available here.
Commissioner Lawrence expressed his condolences and support for those impacted by the storm and commended first responders for their efforts. He emphasized the resilience of Tennesseans and their willingness to help each other during emergencies. For ongoing updates about recovery efforts, residents can refer to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s news page found here.
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TDCI Assistant Commissioner for Insurance, Bill Huddleston, advised residents to carefully review their insurance coverage when filing claims. In instances where claims are unjustly denied, or there are questions regarding policies, filing a complaint remains an option.
In support of the recovery process, TDCI has issued several guidelines:
**Insurance Tips:**
– **Coverage Inclusions:** Homeowners’ policies typically cover damage from wind, rain, falling trees, etc. Verify specific details with your insurer.
– **Exclusions:** Standard policies generally do not cover interior water damage without structural damage, flood damage, tree removal without home damage, food spoilage from outages, or water damage from backups.
– **Claims Process:** File promptly, provide necessary documentation, and avoid permanent repairs before inspection. If denied, complaints can be filed with TDCI.
**Electrical Generator Safety:**
Residents are reminded of the risks associated with portable generators and advised to operate them outdoors, at least 20 feet from buildings, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
**Hiring a Contractor:**
– Verify contractor licenses at verify.tn.gov.
– Projects over $25,000 require a licensed contractor.
– Obtain multiple bids, check references, and be cautious of upfront payments or unsolicited repairs.
– Ensure written contracts for debris removal and make final payments post-inspection.
For contractor complaints, residents are encouraged to file online.
Source: Read Original Release
TDOT Responds to East Tennessee Storm Damage
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