Checking on insurance before the storm

MILFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- Not only are folks across the state packing up to get ready for Sandy, but they're also calling up their insurance companies.

Right now the storm is a Category 2 hurricane, but if that changes people want to know what steps to take to make sure they're still covered.

The garage door goes up, revealing everything put away in preparation for the storm, motivated by memories of last year.

Dave Slerno says clients want everything moved to the second floor.

"They are concerned even if we have a little bit of rain they are going to get hit pretty hard on the first floor levels and especially crawl spaces," said Slerno, Quality Craft Builders.

Just down Melba Street in Milford Mickey Johnson plans to move things, but first contacting her agent to review her flood insurance policy.

"I just wanted to make sure that I had enough coverage on it," said Johnson. "I'm probably not covered for as much as today's replacement value would be."

Flood insurance is mandatory if you live on the beach, but damage from surge of water brought by Tropical Storm Irene had many homeowners not only cleaning up, but also confused by their policies.

"It's beautiful to lie on the beach, but the insurance is expensive," said News 8's Erin Cox.

"It's costly there is no doubt about it, it's costly," said Johnson.

News 8 wanted to know if the classification of the weather event could impact the extent of coverage. So we are leaving the beach and heading to the State Department of Insurance.

"It does on some policies not so much coverage, but deductibles that may be in play," said Gerard O'Sullivan, State Dept. of Insurance.

And O'Sullivan says at this point it's probably too late to get flood insurance to cover damage done by Sandy, but what you can do now is put together a home inventory.

"It can be very easy these days, you can just get your video phone out and walk around your house and film all the things that you have," said O'Sullivan. "You want to open up closets, you want to open up drawers."

Johnson has flood coverage and is crossing her fingers.

"You know we just pray for the best," she said.

For more information check out this Home Inventory App .