September is National Preparedness Month. It is a time to regroup and help your family understand what to do in case of an unexpected situation occurs. Along with natural disasters like wild fires, earthquakes, hurricanes and tornados, families need to prepare for heavy storms and broken pipes which can cause water damage to a home. Families also need to prepare for unexpected household fires that may start in the kitchen or by a grill. Maybe an electric heater was left on or a candle was left burning. Being prepared can help get family members out of the home in a timely and safe manner. Being prepared by documenting the details of your home both before and after can help when submitting a complete claim to your insurance agent for reimbursement. Being prepared can help you locate important documents that might help you immediately or in the future. Being prepared can keep your family safe!
These four primary tips can get you started on your efforts to getting prepared.
- Start by outlining a kit you will need in case you need to evacuate your home. Remember to include specific prescriptions that anyone in your family might need. If you have pets, also include their food.
- Then create an evacuation plan for all members of your family including your children and your pets. Evacuating your home is one step, while also understanding how your family will evacuate a city if members are at work or school.
- Next, document your home and your belongings in case you incur home damage and need to have the details of what you own for a claim. You will also want to track all pertinent documents that may be necessary should you need them to properly identify the members of your family.
- Finally, there are tasks that you can do to protect your home against some of the elements. Learn what maintenance tips could work in your area that could prevent more damage to you home.
For more specific information on these tips, please visit our Emergency Preparedness page.
