5 on Your Side: Triangle homeowners deal with damage from tornadoes. What to do after the storm.

Severe weather from the remnants of Hurricane Isaias led to five tornadoes touching down in North Carolina's Triangle area, leading to rain and windstorm damage across the region. 

In the immediate aftermath of the storm, there are five steps the North Carolina Department of Insurance is advising homeowners to take if they've been impacted:

• Contacting a homeowner's insurance agent or company
• Making a list of damages
• Stopping further damage
• Making temporary repairs
• Assuring the home is livable

Stopping further damage is one of the most important steps immediately following the initial contact for loss to your insurance. Reasonable expenses to protect property are part of the loss, meaning it's important for people to keep receipts of any temporary repairs in the immediate aftermath of storm damage. 

That doesn't apply to permanent repairs that were made before insurance companies have a chance to inspect damage. 

Most homeowner's insurance typically cover windstorm and hail as a part of their policies. Depending on where you live, though, windstorm and hail coverage may be excluded from the primary residential property insurance policy. Often, writes the NCDOI, separate policies for those impacts may be written by the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association. 

The NCIUA wrote the following in reference to Isaias:

As Named Storm Isaias is affecting weather conditions in North Carolina, we are implementing Member Insurer handling procedures for wind- and hail-only policies. At this time, no watches or warnings have been issued for North Carolina; therefore, the Named Storm Deductible will NOT apply. All claims should be reported directly to the NCIUA, which will notify the appropriate Member Insurer. Please contact the Claims Department with any questions.

Protecting yourself against scam contractors after the storm

The Better Business Bureau of the Eastern Carolinas is taking the weekend's weather to remind homeowners about "fly-by-night" contractors looking to capitalize on people's damages. 

 • Unsolicited door-to-door visits: People knocking on your door claiming they have "extra materials" from a nearby job or noticed immediate damage on your roof.

• High-pressure sales tactics: Demanding you sign an agreement on the spot to lock in a "limited-time" discount.

• Large upfront payments or cash-only deals: Asking for full payment or a huge cash deposit before any work starts.

• No written contract: Insisting on a handshake, offering only a rough estimate, or refusing to give you a copy of a signed agreement.

• Unmarked vehicles: Showing up in generic or unmarked rental trucks instead of branded company vehicles.