What do you believe is the single most important factor driving up the cost of living in Nigeria?

1. Call your insurer as soon as you can

Experts recommend including copies of your insurance policies and contact numbers in a disaster preparedness kit, that goes with you if you evacuate and is securely stored, otherwise. Once a disaster has passed, immediately contact your insurance company to let them know that your home has damage from a recent disaster and you'd like to start the claims process, said Porter. If you evacuated, "you can start the claim from anywhere," Porter said. "You'll eventually have to schedule with the insurance company to actually review and inspect the damage." But if you decide to wait out the storm in your house, you need to first prevent further damage to the home before calling, said Bankrate.com's Martin. A typical home insurance policy has language requiring homeowners to lessen the impact and prevent further damage, she said. "Then you can call the insurance company, take pictures of the damage and [move] items into safer locations," Martin said.

2. Make a log of damages

During your call, provide your insurance company with some initial details, like if your roof blew off or several windows broke, said Porter. "But they really won't make their assessment until they come in and inspect the damage," he said. While the insurer will make its own inspection, it's always important to document your damages, including taking pictures, so that you can align that with the formal inspection record that comes out from the insurance company, Porter said. This way, you can dispute any claims if you have to later, he said.

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