Question: Are You Prepared If a Natural Disaster Strikes?
It seems as though there's always a hurricane, tornado,
earthquake, flood, fire, blizzard, or mudslide happening somewhere in the United
States. A storm or other natural disaster could destroy your home, business, or
workplace and put you in financial straits, but there are things you can do
both before and after the event to help you recover quickly.
Pre-disaster
Create a financial emergency kit. Put together a kit that
contains some cash and checks, a list of important contacts (e.g., your
insurance agent), and copies of important documents, including identification
cards, birth and marriage certificates, insurance policies and inventories,
wills, trusts, and deeds. Make sure your kit is stored in a safe and secure
place in your home.
Protect your assets. Take some commonsense
precautions to safeguard your home, business, car, boat, and similar assets
against damage from wind, water, fire, or other risks.
Take inventory. Create and maintain an
inventory of your valuables, including appliances, electronics, furniture,
clothing, jewelry, and artwork. Record models and serial numbers, and take
pictures or a video of the items. This will help when it comes time to file
insurance claims and purchase replacements.
Check your insurance coverage. Make sure your insurance
policies (e.g., homeowners, auto) include all the coverage you need, and
understand that damage caused by natural disasters may not be covered under
general types of policies. You may need to consider buying separate coverage
for hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, or other disasters
Post-disaster
In the immediate aftermath, proceed with caution. While the disaster may have
passed, health and safety hazards still may exist. Be aware that any building
you're in, including your home, may not be structurally sound, so carefully
look for any apparent damage. Also, report contamination from spills of oil,
gas, chemicals, or any hazardous substance.
Assess your property for damage. Take pictures of damaged
areas both inside and outside your home, including trees, landscaping, and yard
structures such as sheds.
File insurance claims immediately. Contact your insurance
agent and file claims as soon as possible. The quicker you do so, the sooner
you can get back on your feet.
