Monday night’s flash flooding left damage across the tri-state area. But if you have flood insurance, experts say don’t panic - just file a claim as soon as possible.

The Insurance Information Institute recommends taking an inventory of the damage, including pictures.

The III says having the photos in advance is ideal, but even photos taken after the fact are helpful, especially if you intend to throw out any items that are wet or moldy.

Unfortunately, each year, thousands of homeowners are caught by surprise by flooding.

If you don’t live in a flood zone, flood insurance is optional.

As Kane In Your Corner has warned in the past, standard homeowners’ insurance typically won’t cover damage from flooding.

In a 2021 report, the First Street Foundation documented the growing risk of flooding in the tri-state, and warned that people should not depend on potentially outdated FEMA flood maps to determine their safety risk.

“The events that we are having, especially here in the northeast and in the Mid Atlantic are becoming more extreme,” First Street Foundation founding member Jeremy Porter warned at the time. “We're getting heavier rainfalls, and the events are moving slower through the area.”

If you sustained damage from a falling tree or branch, insurance experts say you should be covered by your homeowners’ insurance, regardless of whether the tree was originally on your property or your neighbors’.