The recent Dana left in its wake a desolate panorama in many communities: flooded homes, unusable vehicles and devastated agricultural fields. The effects of this meteorological phenomenon were particularly felt in the Valencia region and other regions of southeastern Spain, where losses in the agricultural sector and material damage are still difficult to assess. Insurers, in collaboration with the Insurance Compensation Consortium, are already preparing to manage an avalanche of claims, providing cover and support to those who have suffered the consequences of this disaster.
The Insurance Compensation Consortium, a public entity funded in part by the premiums policyholders pay on their policies, will cover damage caused by Dana in homes, businesses, offices and industries with current insurance. “Of the 100 euros you pay for a home insurance policy, two go to this common fund,” explains Jorge Moscat, Tuio’s operations director. This means that Policyholders can seek compensation to repair their propertyprovided the damage is properly documented.
To begin the claims process, those affected should contact their insurer, who will appoint an expert to assess the damage in detail. The recommendations are clear: do not throw away anything that has been damaged and collect all possible visual evidence. “Taking photographs of the damage, both of the structure of the home and of the objects affected by the water, is essential”opinion of the Consortium.
In the agricultural sector, the situation is devastating. According to Sergio de Andrés, general director of Agroseguros, “The most affected crops are citrus fruits, persimmons and vegetables, with a total loss of production in some areas”. In Valencia, the entire harvest of tangerines and persimmons remained unused, while in the Requena-Utiel region, around 35,000 hectares of vineyards and 5,000 hectares of almond trees are submerged under water. The economic losses for farmers are unimaginable, and agricultural insurance will cover not only production loss, but also damage to agricultural vehicles, greenhouses and affected livestock.
The Consortium and insurers have put in place extraordinary measures to facilitate claims. Usually the law sets a deadline of seven days for submitting reports, but on this occasion This limitation has been removed, giving respite to those affected. “The most important thing at the moment is to preserve the safety of people. Agricultural disaster declarations can wait a few days, until the farms are safely accessible,” explains the director of Agroseguros.
In addition, deadlines for submitting documents for farmers are extendedwho are facing a complex access situation to their farms due to flooding. Anyone who has suffered damage should contact their insurer as quickly as possible and keep all the necessary documents, because in many cases, this step will make the difference in obtaining adequate compensation.
*The Generalitat has activated the telephone number 900 365 112 to help relatives of missing people. Authorities are asking that this phone number be reserved only to provide information about this family member who cannot be contacted. For emergencies, the number is always 112.
