Disaster Recovery Resources
Few Texans will forget February of 2021 – the costliest winter storm in history that sent temperatures plunging, blanketed cities in snow and ice and left businesses without power.*
We put together a few tips to make sure you’re prepared and protected this winter:
- Review your insurance needs to ensure your coverage levels are adequate. Remember to also take pictures of your business properties.
- Prepare a disaster supply kit inclusive of items to melt ice on driveways, sand to improve traction and snow shovels or other snow removal equipment. Additionally, make sure to keep portable heaters on-site in case heating issues take place. Lastly, include a note with contact information for your heating contractor, plumber, fire department, insurance agent and building owner.
- Make copies of your important documents such as insurance policies, banking records and account numbers. Keep them in a water and fireproof container.
- Set up secondary communications such as a dedicated phone line, 800 numbers, radio or satellite phone.
- Invest in a backup generator to power lights and heaters in the event of a prolonged electrical outage. If you’re planning to use a generator, it’ll be especially important to regularly check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Develop a plan for relocating salvageable or undamaged stock/supplies as well as identifying equipment to be protected from freeze-up, such as computers and manufacturing equipment.
- Maintain automatic sprinkler protection in idle buildings, quickly address sprinkler system impairments and notify the local fire department.
- Start conserving energy to save your business from drastic winter costs by lowering your thermostat during peak hours.
- Drip faucets to prevent pipes from freezing (and later bursting). Wrap exposed outdoor pipes and open cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate around indoor plumbing.
- Communicate with your customers and employees about when your business will be closed and when operating, share information about safe access into premises.
- Review your business continuity plan annually to ensure that personnel and assets will be protected in the event of a disaster.
- Review your homeowners insurance policy to ensure your coverage levels are adequate for the value of your home. Be sure to also take pictures of your home and secondary properties.
- Prepare a seven-day emergency kit with a supply of nonperishable food, water, medications, flashlights, a portable charger and a battery-charged radio.
- Make copies of your important documents such as insurance policies, personal identification documents, banking records, etc. Keep them in a water and fireproof container.
- Invest in a backup generator to power lights and heaters during a prolonged electrical outage. If you're planning to use a generator, it’ll be especially important to regularly check on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Place a protective screen in front of a wood-burning fireplace since many house fires start in the winter when embers escape the fireplace.
- Cut large tree limbs that overhang the property; they become heavy when they gather ice and can fall on cars, roofs or people.
- Drip faucets to prevent pipes from freezing (and later bursting). Wrap exposed outdoor pipes, drain swimming pool equipment and open cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate around indoor plumbing.
- Make repairs to broken or drafty windows, doors and walls. Seal all leaks in crawl spaces and basements.
- Prepare your vacation home by leaving the heat on, shutting off the main water supply and opening the faucets to drain the pipes.
- Fill your vehicle with fuel in case you need to evacuate or get stuck in a storm while on the road.
If your personal or business property has sustained damages and you need to file a claim, we encourage you to contact your carrier directly in order to expedite the process. Below are instructions on how to file a claim and the contact information for the personal and commercial carriers Frost partners with.
Most insurance carriers offer apps allowing you to quickly and easily file a claim directly. Check your app store to see if your carrier offers this technology.
We are here to help. Call us at (866) 227-2099 or you may reach out to your local Frost Insurance office at the numbers below.
1. Protect property from further damage.
- Cover the property if it is exposed to the elements.
- Make temporary repairs, if reasonable and necessary, to protect the property from further damage.
- Maintain a record of all expenses incurred.
- Separate damaged from undamaged personal property.
2. Take photos of damage (if possible).
3. Prepare an inventory of damaged personal property.
- List quantity, description and value.
- Attach bills, receipts, estimates and related documents.
4. Retain damaged property until a claims adjuster approves its disposal (unless a danger to safety exists).
- The adjuster may need to inspect the property.
- The insurance company may be able to salvage the damaged property.
5. Notify police in the case of theft.
6. Expect to be contacted by the claims adjuster within two working days. Please call Frost Insurance if you have not been contacted within that timeframe.
- If the damage significantly affects your continuing operations, we will request that the insurance carrier expedite your claim.
- Please let us know immediately if your circumstances change and this loss will have a greater impact on your business than originally anticipated.
7. Be prepared to provide additional information as requested by the claims adjuster.
8. Consider or plan for alternative arrangements in the event your premises has damage that does not permit you to remain there.
| AIG (888) 760-9195 |
Mercury (800) 503-3724 |
Safeco (800) 332-3226 |
| Assurant/American Bankers: Flood (800) 423-4403 reportfloodclaim@assurant.com |
National Lloyds (800) 749-6419 claims@natlloyds.com |
State Auto (800) 766-1853 |
| Central (888) 263-2924 |
NFIP: Flood (800) 427-4661 |
Travelers (800) 252-4633 |
| Chubb (800) 252-4670 |
Nationwide Private Client (855) 473-6410 privateclient_claims@nationwide.com |
Vault (844) 388-5677 claimsFNOL@vault.insurance |
| Cincinnati (888) 242-8811 |
Progressive (800) 274-4499 |
Wright: Flood (800) 725-9472 |
| Hocheim (888) 473-6256 |
Pure (888) 813-7873 |
| Acuity (800) 242-7666 |
Hartford (800) 553-1710 agentfaxreporting.claim@thehartford.com |
State Auto (800) 766-1853 claims@stateauto.com |
| Assurant/American Bankers: Flood (800) 423-4403 reportfloodclaim@assurant.com |
Liberty Mutual (800) 362-0000 clclaimreports@libertymutual.com |
Travelers (800) 238-6225 |
| CNA (877) 262-2727 lossreport@cnaasap.com |
Mercury (800) 503-3724 |
Union Standard (800) 444-0049 usigclaims@usic.com |
| Central (800) 736-7000 lossnotices@central-insurance.com |
Nationwide Private Client (855) 473-6410 privateclient_claims@nationwide.com |
United Fire (800) 343-9131 newclaims@unitedfiregroup.com |
| Chubb (800) 252-4670 |
NFIP: Flood (800) 427-4661 |
Wright: Flood (800) 725-9472 |
| Crum & Forster (800) 690-5520 crumandforsternol@cfins.com |
Philadelphia (800) 765-9749 claimsreport@phly.com |
Zurich (800) 239-4829 |
| Hanover (800) 628-0250 firstreport@hanover.com |
Qeo (844) 736-0009 claims@qeo.com |
If your carrier is not listed above, please reach out to your local Frost Insurance office at the numbers below.
| Austin (512) 473-4520 |
San Antonio (210) 220-6420 |
Victoria (361) 580-9010 |
| Houston (713) 388-1250 |
Dallas (214) 515-4145 |
Fort Worth (817) 420-5700 |
| Corpus Christi (361) 580-9010 |
Rio Grande Valley (361) 580-9010 |
San Marcos (210) 220-6420 |
| Permian Basin (817) 420-5700 |
College Station (713) 388-1250 |
More resources may be found at the Texas Department of Insurance website.
If you need restoration services, here are some reputable companies you may contact.
Frost Insurance Agency does not endorse these companies, further Frost does not make any guarantees or representations of effectiveness of products offered by these providers.