NATCHEZ — As Adams County residents begin post-Gustav clean up efforts, they’re also starting to file their insurance claims.

Susan Lamey, public affairs specialist with State Farm Insurance, said her company has sent a dozen extra insurance adjusters to the area to help residents with their claims.

On Thursday, Lamey was leaving McComb headed for Natchez to help the response team.

“I’ve heard about lots of trees on houses and those types of claims,” Lamey said.

To further aid their customers State Farm set up a special catastrophe center in the parking lot of Stine Hardware.

And while Lamey said State Farm serves approximately 3,900 policyholders in the Adams County area, the Stine site was fairly quiet on Thursday morning.

Lamey urged those with damage to their homes to first make an assessment of the damage so that they can make an accurate report to their agent.

Lamey said to expedited the claims process policyholders should have their policy number ready when making a claim.

“We’re trying to evaluate claims as quickly as possible,” she said.

But homes with the most damage will be seen by an adjuster first Lamey said.

Lamey said that homeowners who can make temporary repairs to their homes should do so.

“Make as many temporary repairs as you can,” she said. “Throw a tarp on that roof.”

Once the insurance evaluation is done Natchez’s city engineer, David Gardner, said residents should be cautious when hiring a contractor to do repairs on damaged houses.

Gardner said it’s always best to use a contractor that is licensed and bonded.

“If not, and they get hurt on your property, you’re paying their medical bills,” he said.

Gardner also recommended before any work is done, the contractor and the homeowner should agree on a written price and the scope of the work to be done.

“Make sure that’s on their company letterhead,” he said. “And make sure they know exactly what you want.”

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood also recommended getting contractor referrals and getting at least three itemized estimates, from separate contractors, before any work is done.