Natural Disaster Planning for Homeowners

Unless you’ve been living in a closet since the first of January and missed all the news around the world with all the earthquakes, then you are well aware of the fact that the threat of natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, hail, mudslides and wildfires is a reality of life for many Americans. These anomalies cannot usually be avoided, but their effects on your property and life can be minimized.

If you become a victim of one of these disasters, what should you do?

The three steps you should take are: plan, prevent and insure.

Plan

Escape routes should always be planned out in advance, whether concerning fire, flood, hurricane or other disaster alerts. In addition, every member of your household needs to know who/where to call for help, and to let others know they are safe or in trouble.

At least twice a year the entire household should review escape routes and plans together, making sure emergency telephone numbers still operate. Post escape routes and phone number information in a prominent place for quick referral as necessary.

During high risk seasons, consider putting irreplaceable (or hard to replace), important items like passports, birth certificates, military papers, marriage/divorce papers and jewelry, along with a video or photos of your material goods (and a serial number list/receipts/appraisals) in a safe deposit box. Overnight bags should also be packed for each family member and for pets, and identification and money/credit cards should be kept with you at all times.

Don’t forget your precious heirlooms and photos if you have to vacate your home!

Prevent

Not much can be done to prevent earthquakes, hurricanes or tornadoes. However, measures can be taken to prevent wildfires and floods (or mudslides). The American Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency Web sites (www.redcross.org, www.fema.gov) are invaluable sources of information.

Insure

No matter how prepared you are, sometimes things go wrong. Having the right insurance during these times is critical.

Your renter’s or homeowners policy covers many things, but may still be inadequate. For example, if a plumbing valve bursts inside your home, your homeowners policy will probably cover the damage. However, if the sewage or water main pipes outside your home break, you may only be covered if you have flood insurance.

If a flash flood occurs, your homeowners insurance will likely not cover your losses; you will need flood insurance. Even with flood insurance, your possessions in the basement will probably not be covered, so you will need to move things upstairs. In addition, flood insurance policies do not take effect for 30 days; keep this in mind when you purchase a policy of this type.

Earthquake insurance is essential in areas of the country that are more prone to this type of disaster. But what many people do not know is that various types of earth movement, including landslides, are covered under this kind of policy. So if a boulder rolls down a hill and into your house, your homeowners insurance may not be the only coverage you need.

Regardless of your situation, it is important to find the best homeowners insurance policy for you and your property.