How To Handle an Insurance Claim After an Oregon Disaster
If a wildfire, flood, windstorm, or other disaster damaged your home or belongings, dealing with insurance can feel overwhelming.
This guide gives you quick tips and trusted resources to help after a disaster—whether you rent or own a home or manufactured home.
If you need urgent help with shelter, food, or safety, start here instead.
What’s covered by my insurance policy?
After a disaster, you may have questions about what your insurance will pay for. Each policy is different, but here’s what is usually covered:
For homeowners and manufactured home owners: Your home, your belongings, and extra costs if you can’t live at home.
For renters: Your belongings and, if your policy includes it, extra costs if you can’t live at home. Learn more about renters insurance in the FAQ section, below.
To find out what your policy covers:
Review your “declarations” page. This part of your policy shows your coverage limits (the most the company will pay) and your deductible (what you pay before insurance starts to pay).
Contact your insurer. Call your insurance company or agent to ask what is covered and what to do next. Tell them you want an “information-only” call, not a formal claim, until you decide to file.
Talk to a consumer advocate. Oregon’s Division of Financial Regulation has consumer advocates who can help for free. Find out how to contact a consumer advocate here.
Types of insurance coverage
Home repairs and rebuilding
If you own a home or manufactured home, your dwelling coverage helps pay for repairs or rebuilding. This is usually based on the cost of restoring your home to its previous condition.
Other structures
If your property has detached structures, such as a shed, garage, or fence, this coverage helps replace or rebuild them.
Personal property
Most insurance policies cover the cost of replacing items you lose in a disaster, such as furniture, electronics, and clothes. This is called contents coverage or personal property coverage.
Claiming personal property loss (Oregon’s new 70 percent rule): In the past, you had to make a detailed list of all the items you lost to get a payout. Starting in 2024, a new law changed that. If your home was completely destroyed in a declared disaster, you can use Oregon's Model Attestation for Personal Property Loss Coverage Payment. This form requires your insurance company to pay you 70 percent of your personal property coverage right away—without listing every item.
Additional living expenses (ALE)
If you can’t live at home after a disaster, ALE coverage (also called loss of use) pays for things like:
- Temporary housing
- Extra food or restaurant meals
- Laundry
- Pet boarding fees
- Storage of household items
Learn more about ALE coverage in this FAQ from Oregon's Division of Financial Regulation.
Flood or earthquake coverage
Flood or earthquake damage is not usually covered by a standard policy. You need a separate policy for that. Check your declarations page or ask your agent if you have this coverage.
How to file an insurance claim
Start by contacting your insurance company. You can file a claim online or by phone.
Tips for filing a claim:
- Document first. Take photos or video of the damage, make a list of what was lost, and save receipts for temporary fixes or extra costs.
- Keep records. Save copies of all emails and letters. Write down notes after each conversation with your insurer.
- Ask about an adjuster. An adjuster assesses the damage and writes a report for the insurance company. Learn more about adjusters in our FAQ section, below.
- Make only temporary repairs. Do this to prevent more damage. Document any repairs, and don’t throw away items until your insurer says it’s okay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your landlord’s policy will not cover your belongings. If you have renters insurance, file your own claim for damaged or lost items. If your policy includes Additional Living Expenses, you can get reimbursed for costs if you can't live in your home.
Document your losses: Take photos or videos, make a list with estimated values, and keep receipts. Ask your insurer what proof they need.
Repairs vs. insurance: Your renters insurance may cover things like furniture, clothes, and electronics. Your landlord’s insurance covers the building. Learn more about your landlord’s duty to repair your rental home here.
Talk to your landlord: If you can't live in your unit, ask for a short note as proof for your Additional Living Expenses claim. You may also need their help to let an adjuster in.
Learn more in Renters Insurance Claim Tips from United Policyholders.
Here are a few things to know:
- An insurance adjuster (or claims adjuster) reviews your insurance coverage, investigates your claim, and decides the amount of your insurance payment.
- You may never meet your insurance adjuster during the claims process. The adjuster may rely only on your photos, receipts, or a contractor's estimate to decide your insurance payment. You can ask for an adjuster to visit in person for moderate or major damage. This can give the adjuster a better sense of the damage.
- Don't rely solely on the adjuster's assessment of the cost of repairs. Get separate estimates from contractors. If the contractors' estimates are higher, you can negotiate for a higher payment. This ensures your insurance payment will cover the real cost of repairs.
Learn more about adjusters in this guide from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Yes. If you have a mortgage, your lender will likely need to approve some insurance paperwork, review repairs, or be listed on claim checks.
Talk to your insurance company and lender to understand timelines and required forms.
You can negotiate with your insurance company and ask for more money.
Ask for it in writing. Get the adjuster’s report and the reason for the decision.
Give more proof. Take photos, get contractor estimates, and ask for a “supplemental payment” if new damage is found.
Get free help. Contact Oregon’s Division of Financial Regulation Consumer Advocacy Hotline.
Talk to a lawyer about your options. Call Oregon's Lawyer Referral Service to find legal help.
You may qualify for state or federal disaster assistance. Learn more about disaster financial aid programs here.