Get Ready Month - Day #21: With A Little Help From Our Friends
Posted on | May 30, 2007 |
Along with the experts, we’ve received numerous pieces of advice directly from those who have experienced a fire or natural disaster. Here are the best pieces of advice:
Disasters
- Are your important records in your computer or a DVD? You may lose a DVD or computer by theft or fire – and you won’t have access to your info! Print all important records, home inventory lists and copy any videos or photos and give them to a friend or relative for safe keeping and easy access in case of an emergency.
- Always have extra cash on hand (at least $100 or so) because ATMs and credit card machines won’t work if there is no electricity. Do this even if you aren’t planning to evacuate.
- Have to evacuate? It’s important to bring something that comforts both you (a good pillow) and your children (a favorite stuffed animal or blankey) when you leave your home. And, remember to bring the three P’s when you leave: pets, pills and pillows.
- Are you evacuating your home and can’t bring everything with you? Place breakable valuables in your dishwasher for safekeeping - it’ll act like an individual safe. Also, put art between mattresses to protect it from damage.
- After a disaster: “Be very wary of …the ‘catastrophe chasers’ who come into town and pretend that they’re going to help you rebuild at a reasonable cost,†according to Hurricane Katrina survivor Charmaine Neville. “That’s where people get hurt later on.â€
- Read more from Hurricane Katrina survivors…
Fires
- Listen up! Make sure you can hear the smoke alarms in every part of your home. Some brands make systems that sound all alarms when one alarm is triggered; when you’re purchasing your alarms, ask how they function.
- Lost part of your home or possessions to fire? Take pictures of EVERYTHING. You’ll need visual proof for insurance claims. What can help speed up the claim process is a home inventory list of all your lost, damaged or missing belongings.
- “It’s awful work to catalogue everything that was lost. It took weeks,†according to Hurricane Katrina survivor Amasa Miller. “But that work was worth a lot of money. The better your list is…the more chance you’ll have of getting a good claim. You have to look at that labor like it’s earning you more money per hour than anything else you’ll ever do in your life.â€
Head to our Stories section to see additional tips from readers. Have a tip you’d like to share? Post it in the Comments section below.
Category: Blizzard, Fire, Flood, Get Ready for Emergencies Month, Home Inventory, Hurricane, Tornado
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