Water that

is considered a flood, such as waters rising from creeks, rivers,

excessive runoff, etc., must be covered by federal flood insurance.

You should

notify your insurer promptly of possible loss, as required by your policy.You

should act quickly to prevent further damage to your personal belongings,

which is also a policy requirement.

· Stop

the source of the leak, which may necessitate covering the roof with a

tarp or other emergency action. Keep receipts of any expenses incurred.

· Remove

as much water as possible with mops or a wet vacuum. If the amount is

significant, consider contacting a water extraction specialist.

· Move

furniture, rugs and other wet items outside to expedite drying, preferably

to a secure, dry and well-ventilated area.

· Protect

repairable and undamaged items from further damage.

· Don't

throw away removed or damaged materials until instructed by your insurance

company.

· Improve

air circulation around wet areas by running fans.Open closet and cabinet

doors, and move furniture away from walls.

· In extreme

situations, you may need to remove wallboard and flooring materials to

dry out those areas.

· Begin

the drying process as quickly as possible.Mold can begin forming within

24 to 48 hours.

· You

may want to take photographs of the damage for insurance purposes.

· If you

are a renter, contact your property manager immediately when you have

a maintenance need related to water damage.

The sooner

the affected areas dry out and the source of the leak is repaired, the

better your chances of minimizing damage to your property.

Please send

your insurance questions to Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, 716

West Tower, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA30334. Or, call

404-656-2070 (toll free at 1-800-656-2298), from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays,

for assistance with an insurance question.TDD services available at 404-656-4031.

The Web site is www.gainsurance.org.