When the shock of surviving a tornado lessens and reality sets in, homeowners may not know where to start when it comes to putting the pieces back together.
Many Madison County homeowners are now in the process of turning in insurance claims on damaged homes, vehicles and other items, which is a process with several steps.
Those without homeowner’s insurance may choose to turn to federal aid provided through FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).
The Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet Department of Insurance lists several things homeowners should do while waiting for an adjuster to arrive. Some of these precautions include: making sure the home address is visible from the street. If there is no longer a mailbox, paint the insurance company’s name, policy number and temporary address on a piece of plywood, make a list of everything that needs to be shown to the adjuster and take plenty of photos of all damage.
If electrical service has been damaged or otherwise disconnected from the home, schedule an electrical inspection for consultation about the repair work that is needed, the department suggests.
Kentucky’s Attorney General Jack Conway warned homeowners Monday not to fall victim to “storm chasers,” he said.
“My thoughts and prayers are with families who lost loved ones and those who’ve had their homes destroyed by these terrifying storms,” Conway said.
“Those who are victims of these storms should not be victimized again by criminals who are preying on the widespread devastation.”
Common natural disaster scams include outright fraud, shoddy construction, price gouging, charity scams, impersonating officials and loan scams.
Conway is urging consumers to report any incidents of possible fraud by calling the Consumer Hotline at 1-888-432-9257 or by filing a consumer complaint report online at www.ag.ky.gov.
“Madison County is committed to serving the public during this crisis time in an expedient and efficient manner to assist the property owners in the efforts of restoring their property back to a safe and usable structure,” said Duane Curry, Madison County building code administrator.
Any residents with additional concerns about the safety of their home or wish to request additional inspections or consultation, call the Office of Building Inspections at 624-4780 or Curry at 661-0414.
The Office of Building Inspections is located at 321 North Madison Avenue.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 624-6608.
Storm recovery steps
• Call your agent
• Report your claim as soon as possible
• When you call, have on hand your insurance agent’s name and address along with your insurance policy number and renewal date
• Be prepared to give: Complete directions to your home, a temporary address and how you can be found and a cell phone number if available
• Be sure to write down: Claim reference numbers, the name of the person you talked to from the insurance company and when you called
• Be sure to ask about: Details about filing a claim, including any deadlines; arrangements for an adjuster to inspect the damage; temporary housing and living expenses if you can’t live in your home; and car rental if your vehicle can’t be driven.
• For more information, call the Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet Department of Insurance at 1-800-595-6053 or visit www.doi.ppr.ky.gov/kentucky.
Local News
State offers tips to help storm victims
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Friday at library : Lecturer to portray founder of Berea
John G. Fee, abolitionist and founder of both Berea and Berea College, will be portrayed Friday night by performer Obadiah Ewing-Roush as part of Kentucky Humanities Council Chautauqua performance series at the Madison County Public Library. There is no charge to attend the 7 p.m. event.
As the son of a slave-holding father, Fee witnessed firsthand the benefits of having slaves and the profits that could be made from their labor. When he graduated from college and enrolled in Lane Theological Seminary, he began to understand the inherent wrong and destructiveness of slavery. -
Berea woman dies Tuesday in Laurel County crash
A Berea woman, Tommie Johnson, 60, died Tuesday evening in a Laurel County crash, according to the the Laurel Sheriff’s Office.
The accident took place about 7 p.m. at the junction of Maple Grove Road and KY 363 south of London, as Johnson was attempting to turn onto the state highway.
Laurel County Chief Deputy Eddy Sizemore said Johnson’s Chevrolet Cavalier pulled out in front of a Dodge Durango driven by Charles Joseph, 19, that was traveling south on KY 363.
After being extricated from her vehicle, Johnson was transported to St. Joseph-London hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Joseph also was transported to the hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries, according to the accident report. -
Finally February
Ian Rosser, an Eastern Kentucky University student from Lexington, clears snow from his car parked on campus Wednesday
morning after about an inch of snow fell in Richmond. Temperatures are forcast to be in the upper 40s today. Kentucky has seen a lot of rain in the past few months, as was predicted by the Farmer's Almanac, but very little snow has fallen. -
Volunteers needed for equine therapy
The Appalachian Foothills Therapeutic Equestrian Center will be hosting two, one-day volunteer training workshops for those interested in helping others with special needs.
The volunteer orientation days will be Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but only one day of training is required, according to Mark Martin who co-owns Appalachian Foothills Therapeutic Equestrian Center (AFTEC) with his wife Cheryl.
The all-volunteer organization, which is based in Jackson County, uses horses to help humans deal with physical and emotional challenges. -
Man accused of holding samurai sword to girlfriend’s throat
A Madison grand jury will hear the case of a man accused of threatening to cut his girlfriend’s head off, and attacking her father with a samurai sword.
Russell M. Masters, 42, of Richmond, is charged with two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, which is a Class D felony, and fourth-degree assault (domestic violence with minor injury) and resisting arrest, which both are Class A misdemeanors. Masters could receive one to five years in prison on each wanton endangerment charge, and the misdemeanors both carry a maximum sentence of one year in jail. -
Arrest made in connection with stolen jewelry, computer
Richmond police have made an arrest in connection with property stolen from two homes last fall.
A woman reported to police Monday that she had discovered several items that were missing from her home on South Killarney Drive and her grandmother’s home on Raintree Drive, according to Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock. The items were a set of gold hoop earrings, a white Sony Vaio laptop, a yellow gold heart pendant, a gold tennis bracelet and a ladies’ wedding band with a diamond setting.
The complainant said the belongings had gone missing sometime between August and October. -
US 25 business owners scared of five-lane plan
Voices of Berea business owners upset about upcoming construction on US 25 will be taken to the state level, according to city administrator Randy Stone.
Several people operating businesses along a section of US 25 gave comments Tuesday to the Berea City Council, asking them reconsider plans to widen the road to five lanes.
The design is a five-lane highway with a center turn lane and a 10-foot shared use path on one side and a 5-foot sidewalk on the other side. -
Grand jury to hear copper theft case
The attorney for a man accused of stealing copper from a handful of electric poles questioned his identification as the same person who took copper from 32 poles two days earlier.
Public defender Meena Mohanty questioned Richmond police officer Nicholas Duvall during a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Madison District Court. Her client, Jeffrey W. Nester, 46, of Fourth Street, was arrested in connection with a Jan. 23 copper theft. He is charged with second-degree criminal mischief, theft by unlawful taking, possession of burglary tools and failure to notify address change to the Department of Transportation. These charges are all misdemeanors that, at most, carry a sentence of one year in prison. -
Judge weighs constitutionality of legislative redistricting
Kentucky’s deadline for filing to run for legislative seats was in flux on Monday because a judge did not immediately rule on a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of newly redrawn district boundaries.
Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd said he expects to enter a ruling in the case by mid-week.
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Couple recovering from injuries suffered in weekend house fire
A couple was hospitalized after their home was set ablaze Sunday by a spark from a cigar, according to a county fire official.
County Fire Chief Jim Cox said the city and county fire departments were called to the home at 111 Concord Road in the early afternoon. Waco Volunteer Fire Department and the Richmond Fire Department also responded.
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