Since I’ll be out of town for a few days, here’s the next two days of the series!!

Making small improvements to your home now can help minimize the damage later.

Whether you’re a regular Mr. or Ms. Fix-It or you’ve got DIY-phobia, here are some quick and easy indoor home improvements you can do to protect your home and its contents:

1. Store valuables (papers, furs, jewelry, heirlooms, family photographs, expensive clothing) in waterproof containers and place large items in garbage bags. Store them in a safe location, perhaps on the highest level to avoid flood damage.

2. Buy extra plastic storage bins to have on hand. You can fill these with water or place valuables inside at the last minute.

3. Store all hazardous materials such as poisons and solvents in a sturdy, latched or locked cabinet in a well-ventilated area.

4. Install sliding bolts or childproof latches on all cabinet doors. This will keep the doors closed and prevent contents from falling.

Next Steps

1. Learn how to turn off the electricity, water and gas in your home. Knowing these actions could help in case there’s a burst pipe, power outage or gas leak.

2. Relocate appliances out of the basement of your home and elevate or relocate your furnace, water heater, main breaker, utility meters and electric panel if they are in areas of your home that may be flooded.

3. Secure your large appliances, propane tanks, gas cylinders, especially your water heater, with flexible cable, braided wire, or metal strapping. This will keep them from toppling.

4. Anchor tall bookcases, china closets and file cabinets with “L” brackets, corner brackets, aluminum molding or eyebolts, depending on the item.

WHN TIP: Some insurance companies might offer discounts if you install disaster-resistant items or make home improvements (shatter-proof windows, shutters, earthquake proofing, roofing reinforcements, etc.). Ask about which items might help you save on your premiums.

These tips are for general disasters such as flooding and storms. Worried about winter weather? Click here. Need to update your home’s fire safety measures? Click here.

Yesterday we talked about creating a home inventory.

Every firefighter, police officer or first responder we have interviewed says that a home inventory is the most important thing a family can do to prepare for the unexpected.

Why create a home inventory? It’s easier to write the details now - it’s harder after a traumatic event like a break-in or a house fire.

Taking an inventory of your entire home can seem daunting but here are a few home inventory hints:

1. Print our room lists. These have been created with help from firefighters and people who have lost their homes.

2. Do one room at a time. Consider doing one room each weekend to break it up a bit.

3. Video tape and narrate as you focus on the big items like couches, tables, electronics, art, etc.

• Include information like “I bought this TV in 1998 with my VISA card. I got it at Best Buy and it cost $400. The receipt and warranty are in (file cabinet, safe deposit box, etc.).”

4. No video camera? Take photographs and label them with the same info above. Consider holding a ruler next to items to show the dimensions.

• If you use a digital camera, you can load the inventory list on the same CD as your photos.

5. Whether you’re talking or writing, describe each item, its brand name, make, model, serial numbers and the price. Include any other information you think might be helpful.

6. More tips…

Created a home inventory? Share your tips in the Comments section below!

Every firefighter, police officer or first responder we have interviewed says that a home inventory is the most important thing a family can do to prepare for the unexpected.

What is a home inventory? It’s a list and videos/photos of everything in your home.

Here are just four times when your home inventory will help you out:

• When your possessions have been damaged or stolen
• Filing a police report, insurance claim, federal disaster claim or taxes
• Settling an estate
• Purchasing insurance policies for the right amount or adding riders and extra coverage

Why do a home inventory? It’s easier to write the details now - it’s harder after a traumatic event like a hurricane or a house fire.

So, what are you waiting for? Get started!

Check back tomorrow for additional home inventory tips and suggestions from fellow readers and disaster survivors.

Insurance coverage isn’t something most of us really think or worry about – until we really need it.

Jazz pianist and Hurricane Katrina survivor Amasa Miller got off easy compared to many. His house had only three feet of water in his basement. Along with escaping the damaging path of Hurricane Katrina, Miller was fortunate to have adequate insurance coverage.

“It’s important to choose the right insurance company to begin with,” Miller said. “When they’re buying insurance, they’re not thinking about what would happen if they actually had a claim. Sometimes the cheapest insurance is not the best insurance.

Make an Appointment

Reviewing your policy won’t do a lot of good after a disaster – take the time now to read about your homeowner’s coverage. If you don’t understand or have questions about something, make a note of it and plan to ask your agent.

(On Day #1 we asked you to arrange an appointment with your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance agent. If you haven’t made an appointment, consider doing so.)

At the Meeting

1. Click here to print out a list of the top questions to ask your insurance agent. Be sure to add your own questions to the list.

2. Ask about certain disasters that you might be worried about e.g., tornadoes, hail, wind damage, power outages, fires.

• At the very least, ask about flooding and what’s covered – flooding can happen anytime, anywhere – even if your home’s on a hill! Ask about flood insurance, if you’re interested in purchasing a policy.

3. Always ask your agent what possible rate increase or decreases implications are for each scenario.

WHN TIP: Some insurance companies might offer discounts if you install disaster-resistant items or make home improvements (shatter-proof windows, shutters, earthquake proofing, roofing reinforcements, etc.). Ask about which items might help you save on your premiums.

4. Also, review all your other policies: auto, health, life, long-term care and any other additional policies.

5. Continue to monitor your policies and premiums to see if you are getting adequate coverage. Ask your agent(s) any and all questions you might have about your insurance situation.

6. Along with reviewing your insurance policies, consider writing a will, or update your will if you haven’t in a few years.

• Why do you need a will? Legally, you’re not required to have a one; however, writing a will avoids confusion and helps your loved ones carry out your final wishes.
• You may need to contact a lawyer for help in writing and drafting your will.
• Think about drafting advance care directives and power of attorney documents - again you will need a lawyer.

Ideas? Questions? Email me.

Hurricane Katrina survivor Deborah Edwards learned that “the most important thing is making sure you have documentation. If you have a copy of your house note or mortgage…secure that and put those numbers in a safe place. You don’t think about that until something like [Katrina] happens.”

If you were to lose your important records in a fire or natural disaster it would take hours, weeks perhaps even months to replace all of these pieces of information. To save yourself time, money and energy - keep your vital records and important papers together so you can grab them quick in an emergency.

Click here for a list of important records you should gather for your “Master Information Box.” Store all copies or actual documents in a safe place like a safe deposit box or in a waterproof, plastic container in an accessible place in your home.

Along with your documents, you should keep track of all important personal information for each family member such as their medical history, finances and vital records.

You should also make extra copies of very important photos and keep them somewhere else other than your home (e.g. work, safe deposit box, a relative’s home). Photos are often irreplaceable without the film negatives or a camera’s memory cards!

Ideas? Comments? E-mail me.

Flat tire? Stuck in a ditch? Having extra car essentials on hand can really help in a pinch. (And yes, you’ll need more than just a spare tire, jack and jumper cables!)

We asked Lauren Fix, the Car Coach, for her top car emergency item recommendations:

1. A power source, such as a portable battery charger, engine starter or remote starter.

• “So if you’re by yourself, one of the kids left the lights on, maybe the radio was left on, the battery’s dead,” Fix says. “All you have to do is pop the hood, put the red on the positive and the black on the negative and start the car. It’s also wise for ladies who are by themselves in parking lots or at work.”

2. An LED light source in place of a flare.

• “They’re really easy to buy, about $12. It is a device that is magnetic and sticks to the car and it either flashes or its solid – much safer than a flare.”

3. A first aid kit.

• You can find these at most big box stores, pharmacies, maybe even grocery stores and online.

4. A pair of gloves.

• “Whether you’re pumping gas or adding washer fluid or checking tire pressure, those chemicals and the stuff that you drive through, you certainly don’t want on your skin or to possibly get in your system.”

5. A blanket.

• “Whether it’s cold outside and you need to stay warm, or you need to throw it on the ground in order to work underneath the car, that’s great,” says Fix. “Even if you’re on your knees and you have a tire inflation product, instead of changing a flat tire, it’s great to sit down on a blanket instead of sitting on the side of the road.

6. A fire extinguisher.

• Make sure that it’s specifically for automotive purposes not households. “You want the right one, or it could cost you a lot of money, if you have to use it and it’s the wrong type.”

Along with these six items, you should probably have a few additional items on hand. Here’s a suggested list – pick out the items that you think you might need.

Yesterday we talked about all the important safety and emergency items you should have in your home (smoke detectors, flashlights, first aid kits, etc.).

Now that you’ve gathered these items, you’re ready to make a home emergency preparedness kit.

Remember, an emergency or evacuation can last a lot longer than just a few hours or overnight. When packing, think of what you would take on a two-week camping trip and don’t forget to pack items for all family members.

Click here for tips on how to build your kit.

Click here for a complete supplies list for your emergency preparedness kit. At the very least, make sure to have a first aid kit and food, water, medications and extra clothing for each person. You’ll need to have enough for 72 hours.

WHN TIP: Remember to prepare your kit well ahead of the severe weather or hurricane seasons. Stores might run out of certain items due to high demand. If stores are out of items, see if you can order them online.

WHN TIP: Live in Florida? Your governor just passed a bill instituting a sales tax break from June 1-12 for hurricane preparedness items (read more). Visit FloridaDisaster.org for additional state-specific information and preparedness tips.

Having the necessary supplies and safety items on hand can be a huge help in an emergency or disaster situation. So save yourself a little extra time and energy by hunting for those items today.

1. Take a mental note of the emergency items you might have in your home already. At the very least, you should have the following items in your home:

• Bottled water
• Canned food
• Carbon monoxide detector(s)
• Fire extinguisher(s)
• First aid kit
• Flashlights
• Portable battery or crank powered radio or NOAA weather radio
• Smoke detector(s)

2. Now do a quick search for these items.

• Gather your canned food, water, extra clothing, batteries, first aid kit and radio: these will be the base for your home emergency preparedness kit.
• Place flashlights by each family member’s bed (make sure it’s easily accessible). Check the batteries. Save an extra flashlight or two for your emergency preparedness kit.
• Run tests on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (read the manuals for instructions) and replace their batteries if you haven’t done so in over 6 months. If these aren’t working correctly, you’ll need to buy replacements.
• Check your fire extinguisher(s) to see if it’s at the correct level. Don’t know how to check this? Click here for instructions or contact your local fire department.

3. Consider gathering additional items for your emergency preparedness kit such as sanitation items, tools, entertainments items (in case the power’s out), etc.

4. Missing some of these preparedness items? Make a list of what you’ll need to purchase.

Tomorrow we’ll walk you through the steps on how to prepare your home emergency kit.

You are picking the kids up from school, but the roads are flooded - do you have an alternate route to get to where you needed to go?

Having an alternate route is important. Hurricanes are often associated with evacuations but you could be asked (or ordered) to leave your home for a number of reasons - floods, wildfires, earthquakes – have an evacuation plan just in case.

Here are fast tips for your general evacuation plan (remember to think about all places: home, work, school, day care):

1. Make an escape plan for your home, work and other places your family spends time. See Day #4 for tips on creating your plan.
2. Plan in advance where to go should you need to evacuate your home or work. Choose a friend’s or relative’s home, a hotel, or a shelter, if they are open at that time. If you choose someone’s home, let them know they are ‘it’.
3. Buy or print a map of your area.
4. Map general and alternate routes to work, home, schools, relative’s homes as well as out-of-town routes.
5. Mark higher elevation roads and areas in case of flooding.
6. Mark local Red Cross shelters in your area and nearby towns on your map(s). Contact your local emergency management office or American Red Cross for information on designated public shelters.
7. 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.
8. If you anticipate severe weather or perhaps as a general rule: always keep your gas tank half-full to full. During emergencies, filling stations may be closed.

Additional steps we’ll cover later - having an emergency kit to take with you; protecting your home before departing.

In the meantime, what would you grab if you had to leave your home (photos, insurance policies, food, water, clothes) and where are these items now? We’ll talk you through a plan for a quick and easy get-out-the-door solution.

Have you ever had to evacuate your home? Share your story in the Comments below!

According to CNN, a large tornado has taken out approximately 90% of Greensburg, Kansas. Among the surviving structures are a battered courthouse, huge concrete silos and a tavern.

Looking to help those in need or know someone who needs help? Here’s a quick list of helpful resources:

Safe and Well - From the Red Cross:
With dozens missing and injured, it’s important to stay in touch with your loved ones.

• Visit www.redcross.org and click on Safe and Well
• If you are in the affected area, list yourself as Safe and Well by calling 1(866)GET-INFO (or 1-866-438-4636) or registering on the Safe and Well web site
• If you hear from a loved one in the affected area, enter their information on the site to let people know they are Safe and Well
• If you have phone or internet access, share that with your neighbors who don’t. Invite them to use your computer access to place themselves on the site. Share your cell phone with your neighbors who may need to call 1(866)GET-INFO for help listing their information.

Related Articles

• After the Storm - Helping Others
• Filing for Federal Relief (federal funding is available to affected individuals in Kiowa County, KS)
  
• Financial Assistance
• Help - Tornado
• Insurance - Filing a Claim
• Questions for Your FEMA Official

Donating

• Donate money to a recognized disaster relief organization such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army or Habitat for Humanity.
• Do not donate food, clothing or other personal items unless they are specifically requested. Most organizations do not have the staff or funding available to sort through donated items. Donate money instead.