Natural disasters seem to be increasing in recent years and the devastation is horrific. Homes and lives are being destroyed all over the world and the need for help is at an all time high. What most people don’t understand is that we all are at risk to some degree. Natural disasters can happen to any of us at any time. Whether it is a tornado, hurricane, wildfire or raging storm, natural disasters happen everywhere. How do we prepare for such devastation?
Certainly no plan is perfect, but here are some tips:
Protect your home with a comprehensive insurance policy
People rarely realize they are not sufficiently protected until they get hit with a natural disaster. Insurance is vital to protect your lifelong investment, and having the right policy is just as important. Most policies don’t include flood insurance at all so you might need to add that on if you live in an area known for it. Also, some policies simply cover the value of your item and not the cost to replace it. This makes a huge difference if you have something that costs much more to replace than what they might value it at.
Know your location and needs…then make upgrades
If you live at the coast and have a home that has little to no wind protection, you are going to run into problems eventually. Go ahead and shore those areas up. Every area of the planet has potential problems and your home should reflect that. Consider the most likely scenarios and build your home to withstand it. This changes from place to place.
Have an escape plan
No belonging is worth losing your life over, so make sure you have a way out when you see these situations looming. Know your escape route, what you would do if there is no time to escape and how to best protect your family. Emergency plans and running the scenarios every so often can give your family a huge advantage in an emergency.
Have a disaster kit put away
Food, first aid and water are going to be at a premium if you get caught in a natural disaster. Store away foods that won’t spoil and sock back plenty of water in case of emergency. Also make sure you have plenty of medical supplies and warmth related items. Matches and lighters are especially helpful in an emergency. Flashlights and batteries are a good idea as well.
Make Backup Documents
Important papers are often lost in the midst of a natural disaster. Make backups of these and store them in a safe area. Safe deposit boxes at the bank work quite well as well as electronic copies on your computer.
It is always good to invest some time thinking about ways to face an emergency situation and how to handle it well with the resources at your disposal. Home Insurance goes a long way in indemnifying you for the losses suffered. But you need to be prepared for what your Insurance Company will require from you to help you pull through a loss event. If you need more information on this topic, feel free to use the comment section or seek out your Insurance Agent.