Disaster claims book available for free in Mid-Missouri

Ivan Turner
Ivan Turner

Just over two months after the May 22 tornado hit Jefferson City and flooding affected the area, a local disaster recovery expert has released a book about disaster claims to help those affected.

The book is available for free to anyone in Mid-Missouri, author Ivan Turner said.

Turner, co-founder of Disaster Brigade U.S.A., has more than 30 years of experience in disaster recovery.

"The Definitive Guide for Winning in the Insurance Claims Game" was in the works before May, but Turner wanted to release it for people to have after the disasters.

"The book was really written to help property owners - commercial and residential - to get through the whole process of having a damage," he said. "Homeowners are really at a loss for what to do next when they do have an event."

Turner said one of the biggest challenges after a disaster can be dealing with insurance claims.

"When you have a loss, you have to have some kind of resource or tool at your disposal that will help you get through the loss and help you maintain your leverage," Turner said.

The book covers what to expect during the process of a claim, questions to ask before selecting disaster restoration providers and what to do if you feel your insurer isn't being fair with your claim, among other things.

It also includes a glossary of insurance terms, a sample disaster restoration contract and other resources.

"I think it's a great tool for property owners, especially first-time property owners that've never had a claim before," he said.

Turner said the book took 25 years to write because it's a culmination of all of his experiences - good and bad.

"In the book, I share a lot of stories - good stories that people have had good results with having filed a claim - then I share some of my bad stories, some mistakes I've made," Turner said.

The book is available for free in PDF format. People who are interested in a copy can email Turner at [email protected] to receive a copy.

Physical copies are in the process of being published, Turner said.