• Board up and protect your property from further damage.
• Contact your insurance company and/or agent immediately to report the loss (as required by the insurance policy.)
• Check with the fire department to make sure your property is safe to enter. Be watchful of any structural damage caused by the fire.
• The fire department should see that utilities are either safe to use or are disconnected before they leave the site. DO NOT attempt to reconnect utilities yourself.
• Do not leave valuables in the building if you cannot stay there.
• If your property is uninhabitable, contact the local police department to let them know the site will be unoccupied. Consider hiring a guard service to watch the property.
• Save all the receipts for any money you spend after the loss.
• Document the loss with photographs. Do not repair or throw away any damaged property until after an inventory is made and approved by the insurance company’s adjuster.
• Beware of contractors urging you to sign a contract (other than for emergency services) before you have agreed with your insurance company on a loss settlement.
• Read the insurance policy carefully so that you understand all your obligations under the policy.
• Coordinate the property, business interruption and extra expense claims.
• Have one person speak to the insurance company adjuster on behalf of your organization.
• Take a proactive position. Hire your own experts. Remember that you must make a claim.
• Concentrate on restoring your operations and not on preparing claim details—leave that to the experts.