Recovery begins after Arkansas River moves out of flood stage

(TULSA, Okla.) Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum announced the Arkansas River has officially moved out of flood stage and the Army Corps has confirmed the heavy water load is off the levees on Saturday. “Thinking back over the last couple weeks: our community experienced an earthquake, then we were hit by a tornado, then we began to flood, then we were hit by more tornados while we were flooding,” Bynum said. “But the people in this community kept calm, kept putting one foot in front of the other every day, and kept our focus on what we could do to help our neighbors. It is when a community is tested that you see what it is really made of. In this historic test, our community stood tall - just like this symbol of the city we love.” Bynum said recovery is only beginning and more rain is on the way, but the city will handle that test when it comes, too. The Oklahoma Insurance Department is encouraging residents affected by the flood event to reach out to their insurance agents if they have questions about their policy coverage, document their damages, and watch out for potential scammers. Affected resident’s first step should be to start taking pictures and videos of any damages. To help Oklahoma Emergency Management assess the full scope of the flooding event, damages should be reported to www.damage.ok.gov or to 211. Those looking for insurance help and resources are directed to www.oid.ok.gov. There is a banner at the top of that page called Storm Victims 2019. Helpful links with step-by-step recovery tips like contracting when you need repairs done can be found there.  When it comes to your insurance claim, Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready says he has three words: “Document. Document. Document.” When residents re-enter homes and start recovery, pictures and video will help document that material. Mulready also says to watch for unlicensed adjustors or contractors. The Oklahoma Insurance Department has an anti-fraud unit that shares to the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office. If residents hear anything fraud-related, it can be reported to the Oklahoma Insurance Department or the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office at www.oag.ok.gov. Those needing help can call the Insurance Department’s Consumer Assistance Hotline at 1-800-522-0071. Whether that’s a homeowner’s claim or flood insurance claim, the Oklahoma Insurance Department can help. The Oklahoma Insurance Department also issued a bulletin on May 24 to insurance companies operating in Oklahoma telling them they are not allowed to cancel or non-renew any insurance policy from 30 days after that date. This includes property and casualty and health insurance policies. Also in that bulletin, insurance companies are required, if requested, to provide a copy of the insurance policy without a charge.