Protecting Your Home from Disasters

By Cynthia Beisiegel | April 4, 2005

What a time it is to own a home. It seems that news of natural disasters and the havoc they’ve wreaked dominate headlines across the nation–even the world. In the past couple of months, global citizens have fought off tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, wildfires and landslides. We’ve faced almost every natural disaster imaginable, some in epic proportions.

At a time where homeowners’ premiums are at their highest, especially in certain parts of the country, protecting one’s investments is more important than ever. However, many natural disasters are oftentimes unpredictable and extremely destructive. Just in the past couple of months, we’ve all seen the devastation of the Southeast Asia tsunami, California coastal homes destroyed by landslides, avalanches and flooding ruining homes and infrastructure in Utah, and that’s just to name a few.

Here are some tips you can offer your clients to protect themselves and minimize damage to their homes and belongings during a natural disaster:

Plan and review emergency disaster procedures; including preparation for a potential disaster and evacuation procedures should one occur.

Assemble a disaster supplies kit for both your home and car. A list of items to include can be found on the Federal Emergency Management Web site at www.fema.org.

Have flashlights and a battery-powered radio accessible in case of a power outage.

Teach your family how to shut off utility valves such as gas, electricity and water. Inspect smoke alarms every six months to be sure they are working correctly.

Educate yourself on the different types of natural disasters that pose a threat to your home. Learn about the type of damage that can occur from a certain type of disaster.

Homeowners should keep an itemized inventory of all belongings, preferably by photo or video. Record serial numbers, receipt dates and original purchase costs. Advise your clients to update their inventory as needed and to file it away from the home.

Finally, customers should review their homeowners policy regularly and advise you of any changes or modifications to their home as soon as possible.