Car damage is generally covered by auto insurance, even if the house also is damaged. You will need to make two claims, but they can be made at the same time if you have the same company for both policies. If the inside of the car is flooded, don't try to start it. Cover broken windows. List all damaged or lost valuables.
What does renter's insurance cover?
Renter's insurance generally covers contents and living expenses if your apartment or house is no longer livable. (Your lease might not require your landlord to find you alternate housing).
What does homeowner's insurance cover?
Homeowner's insurance generally covers damage to the building and contents, plus living expenses until your dwelling is livable again.
What should I do if I have damage?
Call your insurance agent. Take photos of damage. Make any emergency repairs to prevent more damage and keep receipts to help document your claim.
Who can I call for further disaster assistance?
Call your insurance agent. If you need more help or don't have insurance, call the Federal Emergency Management Agency at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing or speech impaired, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.
Who can I call if I don't have power?
Call your power company: Progress Energy at 1-800-228-8485;
Tampa Electric at 1-800-223-0800;
Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative at 352-567-5133 or 727-868-9465;
Sumter Electric Cooperative at 352-793-3801.
What do you do if you come to an intersection where the signals are out?
Treat it as a four-way stop. If two vehicles reach the intersection at the same time, the vehicle on the right has the right of way.
What areas are likely to be flooded this morning and should be avoided?
As the storm moves off the coast and into the gulf, feeder bands twisting back into land could cause tidal surges of one to three feet, says the National Weather Service. That, with high tides, means coastal and low-lying areas prone to flooding could have problems.
If my home floods, can I still eat canned food that is stored there?
Canned food can be eaten but labels should be taken off because they can be contaminated with bacteria from floodwater. Before opening, cans should be disinfected with a solution of 1/4 cup bleach to one gallon of water.
Are airports open?
Tampa International Airport planned to reopen this morning with airsides available to passengers at 8:30. Arrivals will begin at 10 a.m, departures at 10:30. Travelers should call their airlines. St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport won't decide on reopening until today.
If other utilities are out, is it safe to use gas appliances?
Yes, as long as the gas lines were not submerged in water.
What do I need to know if I use a portable diesel or gasoline-powered generator?
Make sure to use it in a well ventilated area. Plug only individual appliances into a portable generator. Never connect a generator to wall outlets or a building's wiring without a transfer switch installed by a certified electrician.
What if I see a downed power line?
Never go near or drive over a downed power line. Always assume they are energized. A downed line doesn't have to spark or snap to be dangerous. A fence, tree limbs, railroad tracks and even floodwater in contact with an energized line can conduct electricity a long distance.
Where will Frances go next?
It is expected to regain intensity and hit the Panhandle near Apalachicola by tonight, then move into Georgia and Alabama.
Where's Ivan?
Ivan became the fifth hurricane of the year in the central Atlantic. Sunday night, it was about 760 miles east-southeast of Barbados with winds of 135 mph. Officials said it was too soon to say whether it would hit the United States.
Will gasoline be easier to get?
Gov. Jeb Bush signed an order Sunday allowing state government to allocate supplies. Emergency management officials said retail gasoline outlets would not be resupplied until emergency vehicles, utility vehicles and volunteer aid agencies got all the fuel they need. With most ports in South Florida closed, meaning tankers cannot unload, it could be days before gasoline supplies return to normal.
Compiled by Times staff writers Anita Kumar, Jean Heller, Lou Hau and Lisa Greene and researcher Cathy Wos.
