With the destruction across the region from the Friday morning storm, insurance agents will surely be busy.

Lawrence insurance agent Ron King said American Family insurance company already had received 1,800 claims across the region – including the hard-hit areas of Kansas City – by late morning. He expected that number to double by the time it was all said and done.

Most insurance companies have declared the storm a catastrophe and brought in extra claims adjusters to handle the load.

If problems are major, King said, you don’t need to wait for the claims adjuster.

“If they have any damage – a tree that pokes a hole in the roof – that needs to be repaired immediately, people can make repairs,” King said. “Take pictures. Keep receipts. Document it.”

For the most part, King said, he hadn’t seen catastrophic claims – mostly wind damage and fallen trees.

But with the destruction comes the opportunity for unscrupulous builders to descend on the community. District Attorney Charles Branson said simple steps can help people stay away from those kinds of problems.

“Don’t get in a hurry,” he said. “Just because you’ve got something that needs to be repaired, see if the worker has worked for someone else you know before.”

Branson also stressed the importance of getting a written estimate before allowing any work to be done. It can prevent surprises later and establishes everyone’s expectations, he said.