Nassau County Damage-Self-Report Tool

• Reduce Your Risk
  • Get insurance. Review your renter’s or homeowner's insurance policy to understand what is covered from hazards. For example, protection against loss due to floods is typically not covered under a homeowner's policy.
    • To apply for flood insurance or to contact the National Flood Insurance Program: visit  www.floodsmart.gov , or call 1-888-379-9531.
    • After experiencing flooding, contact your insurance agent right away. Once your insurance agent has your claim:
      • The agent will file a Notice of Loss.
      • An adjuster will be assigned to your case.
      • Once the loss has been adjusted, a Proof of Loss will be submitted, and payment can be made.
    • Partial payment can be made to claimants upon submission of a partial Proof of Loss
    • Protection against loss due to floods is not covered under a homeowner's policy. It is provided through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and administered by FEMA. Contact your property/casualty agent or broker about eligibility for flood insurance, which is offered through the National Flood Insurance Program.
    • Flood insurance covers direct physical loss caused by floods, or an excess of water on land that is normally dry. Check with your insurance policy to confirm if sewer back-ups (SBUs) are covered if SBUs occur in flooding conditions.
    • Flood Insurance & Resources
    • Make sure to take pictures of your property before and after an event to help with any future insurance or assistance claims.
      
• Prepare yourself and your home for future storms.
  • Consider improvements to your home to prepare for future storms. 
  • Hire a professional.  Hire a New York State-licensed Registered Architect or Professional Engineer to check the condition of your property. These professionals also can determine the best option for retrofitting to your home, which means altering the existing structure to reduce or eliminate the possibility of damage.

• Clean your property , including your roof, crawlspaces, vents, decks/patios, and gutters, and dispose of any debris that could become projectiles during a storm. Tip: if severe weather is expected in your area, tie down any loose items, such as outdoor furniture, that may become projectiles.

Report Damage Following an Emergency

• The Self Reporting Damage Tool allows the County to immediately collect damage information from New Yorkers to assess the impact upon affected areas.  

• Clean Up Safely After a Flood
  • Flood water may contain bacteria, petroleum and chemicals. Mold can grow in a flooded home that is not properly cleaned and dried out. Learn how to safely clean your home after a flood.
  • See the American Red Cross resource on Disaster Cleanup & Repair For Your Home: Tips for reversing the damage done to your home during a disaster.
• Care for Family Heirlooms and Important Documents After a Flood
  • When homes are flooded, sometimes treasured possessions such as family heirlooms, photos, and other keepsakes are affected. Visit the FEMA Save Your Family Treasures webpage to find tips on how to save items such as photographs, books, papers and etc. that have been affected by floods. Fact sheets such as “After the Flood: Advice for Salvaging Damaged Family Treasures” and “Salvaging Water-Damaged Family Valuables and Heirlooms” are available in multiple languages.

FEMA Disaster Assistance

• Apply for disaster assistance, report damage to your property, and check claim status by visiting https://www.disasterassistance.gov/.
• See Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Disaster Assistance

Community Assistance

• New York State DMV. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) aids in obtaining duplicate documentation such as vehicle title, license, identification and/or vehicle registration.
• Please note: Individuals will need to go through their insurance if their car has been impacted. Make a reservation: http://www.dmv.ny.gov

Get Involved 

Find ways to get involved with relief and recovery efforts.

• Find out how you can prepare your community
• Find out ways to become a volunteer 

First Steps

• Call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
• Watch out for fallen power lines and stay away from damaged areas.
• Tune in to local TV and radio for officials' announcements.
• Before re-entering a building, check for structural damage. Make sure it is not in danger of collapsing. Turn off any outside gas lines at the meter or tank, and let the building air out for several minutes to remove foul odors or escaping gas.
• Watch for electrical shorts or live wires before turning off the main power switch. Do not turn on any lights or appliances until an electrician has checked the system for short circuits.
• Throw out fresh food and previously opened medicines that have come into contact with floodwaters.
  
  

Assessing and Repairing Damage

• When surveying flood damage in a building look out for mold, any newly formed cracks along the wall, and signs of foundation damage including bulging walls.
• Heavy flooding can significantly affect the structural stability of outdoor structures such as decks, porches, and retaining walls. Take extra precautions near these outdoor structures due to the potential for collapse.
• Flooding can also cause the soil around buildings to shift. Be cautious of sinkholes forming on your property, especially near septic systems. Avoid areas around large trees if the surrounding soil is soft.
• Owners who want to reoccupy residences damaged by flooding should first hire a New York State-licensed Registered Architect or Professional Engineer to assess the building's safety. If the building is not safe to occupy, the owners should seek alternative housing arrangements while repairs are made. Owners should take pictures of all damage and flood impacts and keep receipts for all repairs if they intend to apply for disaster assistance or to make an insurance claim.
• It is highly recommended that residents obtain two or three quotes from different contractors before beginning the work, which can vary widely in price depending on various field conditions. Here's a checklist of questions to ask your general contractor to help you hire a credible contractor.    
  
  

Cleaning After Flooding

• Dry all areas and items quickly and thoroughly.
• Dry clean or wash and dry all clothing and other home items. Clean floors, furniture, and other surfaces with detergent and water.
• Stay out of deep water. Extensive flooding damage may require clean-up and restoration by professionals.
• If your basement or cellar is flooded, use caution when pumping out the water. Pumping out flood water from a building too quickly could cause serious structural damage. The water must be drained slowly to equalize pressure on both sides of the building walls.
• Keep children, pets and people with compromised immune systems away until the area has been cleaned and disinfected.
• Use protective eyewear and waterproof gloves and boots when cleaning or coming into contact with sewage.
• Remove standing shallow water. Make sure to dry all objects and surfaces thoroughly to avoid mold growth.
• Deepwater and extensive flood damage may require professional cleanup and restoration.
• Throw away any food (including packaged food) that may have been touched by sewage water.
• Use soap and water to clean surfaces contaminated with sewage.
• To disinfect, wipe surfaces with a bleach solution (half cup bleach in one gallon of water). Non-bleach sanitizers can also be used.
• WARNING: Never mix bleach with ammonia or detergents containing ammonia products since dangerous gases may be created. Bleach can damage some materials, so use with caution.
• Wash clothes, bedding and other fabrics contaminated with sewage with detergent and water. Dry them thoroughly. Dry clean items that cannot be washed.
• After you finish cleaning, disinfect your boots and gloves with a solution of one half cup household bleach in one gallon of water. Rinse with clear water and allow the boots and gloves to air dry.
  
  

Preventing Mold Growth

• Remove all wet, porous materials.
• Fix leaks or report them to your building owner as soon as possible.
• Use dehumidifiers if available. If the power is out, open windows for ventilation.
  
  

More Resources on Cleaning Up

• 8 Tips to Clean Up Mold in PDF (from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)
• Field Guide for Flooded Home Cleanup in PDF (from the National Center for Healthy Housing)
  
  

Getting Help From Your Insurance

• If you rent your home, renter's insurance will insure the items inside your apartment. If you are a homeowner, make sure your home is properly insured.  
• Note: Protection against property loss due to flooding is typically not covered under renters and homeowner's insurance policies. 
• If you have a flood insurance policy (either as a homeowner or renter) and experienced flood damage from the flash flood event, you should submit your loss to your insurance agent as soon as possible and begin documenting the damage. You'll need to provide proof of loss to your insurance company within 60 days of the flood. For more details on the claims process, follow these steps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 
• Flood insurance covers losses directly caused by flooding. In simple terms, a flood is an excess of water on land that is normally dry, affecting two or more acres of land or two or more properties. 
• Homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. 
• If you do not have flood insurance, consider buying it to be protected from the next flood.