CHICAGO, June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As many
Illinois residents discovered,
last night's severe thunderstorms and strong winds can cause damage
to roofs, siding, cars and windows. Allstate Insurance (NYSE: ALL)
recommends residents carefully inspect their homes and vehicles for
damage following the recent storm.
Allstate policyholders who believe their homes or vehicles were
damaged can start the claim process by calling or visiting their
agent, calling 1-800-54-STORM or logging onto
Allstate.com.
Here are some steps people can follow as they check for
damage:
- Look for wall cracks in spots where there weren't cracks
before. Cracks of a quarter inch or more are signs walls may have
shifted or settled. Look carefully around windows and doors because
these are typically the weakest spots in a home's
construction.
- Make sure to closely check rooms not regularly used.
- Look outside for physically visible, new cracks in the home's
foundation. Look inside for changes in the levelness of floors.
Changes in the level of the floor could be signs of a lift in the
home's foundation.
- Inspect plumbing. Look closely around the water heater and or
water softener for signs of water leaks that did not exist before.
Flush all toilets, turn on all of the water faucets, and check
connecting pipes for any leaking water.
- In the days or weeks after a disaster, check walls and ceilings
for water stains or yellowing that did not exist before. It could
indicate damage on the roof.
- Carefully inspect the outside gutters. Damaged gutters could
cause water damage inside the home long after the actual gutter
damage occurs.
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest
publicly held personal lines insurer known for its "You're In Good
Hands With Allstate®" slogan. Now celebrating its 80th anniversary
as an insurer, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to
help nearly 16 million households insure what they have today and
better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance
products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through
Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive
financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and
1-800 Allstate®.
SOURCE Allstate Insurance