The Claims Department has an immediate response team ready to assist our policyholders when a claim occurs.

How to Report a Claim

• By Email: claims@avatarins.com - Email us your contact information with your claim details and an Avatar representative will contact you.
• By Phone: Call an Avatar Representative at
  (877) 233-3237 or (813) 514-0333,
  Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm EST to report your claim.
  Report a Claim after hours: Call (877) 233-3237 or (813) 514-0333 and leave your claim information. A claims officer will contact you shortly.

Tips for Reporting your Property Claim
You will be in contact with an Avatar claims representative once you have reported your claim so you will have and opportunity to provide more detailed information about your claim at that time. The most important step is to report your claim as soon as possible even when you don’t have all the information so that we can start the claim process and help you.

Claim Handling Process
In order to expedite your claim, please provide our claims representative with as much information as possible relating to your claim during the initial contact. An Avatar claims adjuster will inspect your property to ensure that we obtain the relevant information to properly adjust your claim. Please feel free to contact our office at any time to discuss the progress of your claim.

A claim representative will be able to provide you with a better time estimate as he or she begins to handle your claim.  To speed up the process, please provide the claim representative with as many details as possible about your claim.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A HURRICANE

Prior to hurricane season:
Prepare an inventory of your possessions. This can be written, video tapes or photographed. Store these documents away from your home so they will not become damaged in the event of a catastrophic situation. Review your homeowner’s insurance policy to ensure that your limit is adequate to rebuild your entire home.

Stockpile emergency supplies. This should minimally include: one gallon of water per person per day, canned goods, non-perishable foods, manual can opener, candles, batteries; and flashlights, portable radio, prescription medicines, matches in a waterproof container, first aid kit, and sanitation items (moist towelettes, toilet paper, and paper towels). Don't forget formula, diapers, etc. for small children and food and water for pets. Have enough supplies to last your family a minimum of three days; preferably five.

Have dead tree branches trimmed, particularly if they extend over your house.

Continually monitor progress reports from the National Weather Bureau and local officials. If you have hurricane shutters, put them in place, or board up with plywood. Place all outdoor furniture inside or submerge in the swimming pool. Items that cannot be brought inside will need to be anchored. Gather all important documents; i.e.,
birth certificates, insurance policies, etc. Make sure you have cash on hand, remember during a power outage ATM's will not operate. Make sure you have full tanks of gas in your vehicles.

Determine whether you will: Go to a designated shelter; go to a safer place inland; or ride out the storm (only if your local authorities permit you to do so).

If you leave your home:
Make sure your relatives know where you will be. Plan an escape route. Establish an emergency meeting place in the event your family becomes separated.

Shut off utilities
If you stay home, stay indoors and away from windows and glass doors.

HOW TO REPORT A CATASTROPHE CLAIM

How do you recover?
Recovery takes time.  Catastrophic events shake even the calmest individual.  But, it's human nature to want to begin putting your life back in order.  So, here are some steps to help you on the road to recovery..

• Secure the safety of your family.
• Do not enter your home unless you are sure it is safe. Depending on the type of disaster, there may be exposed electrical wires, standing water or a natural gas leak. If you have any concerns about the structural or environmental safety of your home, do not enter.
• Contact your Avatar agent directly at (877) 233-3237 or (813) 514-0333, report your claim online.           
• Have your policy number handy and be prepared to provide contact information so your adjuster can reach you throughout the claim process. It is important that you provide all your phone numbers, even if they are temporary.             
• Review your emergency plan and evaluate if improvements are needed for future emergencies.

• Take account of your loss and separate the damaged from the undamaged personal property.   
• Begin a room-by-room written inventory of the damages, including a detailed description of personal items that includes the manufacturer’s names, model numbers, purchase dates and purchase prices.         
• If available, provide your adjuster with photos or videotape of the loss site prior to the event. This will assist your adjuster with the damage evaluation process.                 
• If necessary, have a qualified contractor make temporary repairs to prevent additional loss. Be sure to obtain a bill or invoice for this service.             
• If bills were lost or destroyed due to a catastrophic event contact your creditors to establish a workable solution. Discuss payment issues with them directly; creditors usually appreciate forthrightness.             
• If your home is uninhabitable, check with your agent or your policy to determine if you have Additional Living Expenses coverage.               
• Save all receipts to document your living expenses while your home was uninhabitable.               
• Contact the utility companies to discontinue service if your home is not habitable or destroyed.

• Investigate the availability of special loans and/or grants via the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration, the American Red Cross, local government agencies, private lenders and philanthropic organizations.             
• Call to apply for federal disaster aid at 1-800-462-9029 (or 1-800-462-7585 for TDD Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). You will be required to provide your social security number, insurance information and the extent of the damage to your property. Be sure to obtain a control number that is assigned to your application.