Spring brings longer days, warmer weather, and the sense that winter is finally loosening its grip. But in many regions, it also brings something less welcome: heavy rains that can quickly lead to flash flooding.

If you live in a flood-prone area, you’re keenly aware that spring storms can turn into a costly and stressful experience within hours. And in the event your home is flooded, the recovery process often begins with an insurance claim. Unfortunately, that’s where you could quickly run into a surprising problem: proving to your claims adjuster what you owned before the flood happened.