CHAPIN, S.C. — A family home in Chapin on the water of Lake Murray incurred serious damage this week after a tree fell into its living room.
The homeowner's grandson, William Miller, said the process has been quite eye-opening, but they're glad they're insured.
"I know I wouldn't be able to pay for it on my own," said Miller. "So again, take a deep breath; you know the anxiety is going to be there, and you know, make sure your family is safe because that's all that matters. Start the process, and [the] biggest thing is homeowner's insurance. You really, really need it to help out with these problems."
Miller's wife, Karla Miller, said she's preparing the house for wetter weather until the damages can be repaired.
"So, they have really secured the tarp with beams up there, and we're hoping that the water won't come in," said Miller. "We're thinking about buckets; hopefully, that's about the only way, and the electricity - hopefully it won't go down, so batteries, flashlights, and stuff like that."
Brad Giles, the owner of Giles Insurance Agency in Columbia, said homeowners in South Carolina with insurance tend to be covered for wind-related damages.
"Well, luckily, the stuff that we could experience stuff that we did experience on Tuesday typically is covered under homeowners policies," said Giles. "So, homeowners do not cover any kind of wind-related event; if it's just a regular thunderstorm, it could be a tornado, it could be a hurricane - those things are covered under most home owner's policies."
Giles said the decision on whether to file a claim comes down to how much damage there is.
"The thing the homeowners would be responsible for would be their deductible," said Giles. "So, they could have a five hundred dollar deductible, it could be a five thousand dollar deductible, so depending on the amount of damage incurred, that would determine if it actually makes sense to file a claim or not."
Consumer Reports agrees, saying you should avoid reporting losses that are less costly than your deductible. Talk to your insurer, who may have advice about repairs. They also suggest people document their damage immediately. They also recommend keeping a record of every appointment, keeping copies of all documents, and getting as much of your interaction with the insurance company in writing if there are questions about your claim later.
Miller said he was happy that despite the damage to the home, no one was injured.
"The house means nothing," said Miller. "My family means everything, so, their safety. That's the only thing I care about."