PARKERSBURG --- Fallout from a storm like the tornado that hammered Parkersburg is devastating enough for home-owners who find themselves sifting through belongings for days, tallying up damage and figuring out how they can possibly rebuild their lives.

It's traumatic, but it doesn't have to be apocalyptic, insurance officials note.

In fact, during such traumatic times, the guidance that insurance adjusters on the scene can provide can prove far more valuable than a simple settlement check, said Christina Loznicka, spokeswoman for the regional office of Allstate Corp., in Denver, Colo., that oversees Iowa.

"The most important thing is to get in touch with your insurance company as soon as possible," Loznicka said Wednesday. "Go ahead and start taking a lot of pictures of your property damage to provide to your adjuster." {Source:By JIM OFFNER, Courier Business Editor)