Emergency Preparedness
Emergency Supply Kit
With the recent tornadoes that hit the Southeast and current stormy weather, it is good to have an Emergency Supply Kit ready to go in case disaster strikes. Here are some items you will need to make sure are handy:- Prescription medications & glasses
- Important family documents, such as copies of life insurance policies, identification, and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
- Cash or traveler’s checks and change
- Emergency reference material such as a first aid book
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each member of your household.
- Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants, and sturdy shoes
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Bottled water
For a complete list of what you should include in your emergency supply kit, please visit http://www.ready.gov/basic-disaster-supplies-kit.
Disaster Preparedness Tips
Step One: Prepare For the Worst
- Identify the closest storm shelter and prepare an evacuation plan.
- Make a plan for your pets. Not all emergency shelters will take pets.
- If you need to evacuate your home, turn off all utilities and disconnect appliances.
- Take proactive steps to protect your property from loss.
Step Two: Take an Inventory of Your Property
- Take photos or videos of your home before a disaster strikes to properly record the condition of the home. If you use a digital camera, e-mail the photos to yourself or store them on a Web site.
- Take an inventory of your personal property, such as clothes, jewelry, furniture, computers, and audio/video equipment.
- Move all of your important documents to a safe location. Take them with you when you evacuate or store them in a safe deposit box outside the area.
Step Three: Review Your Insurance Coverage
- Review your insurance coverage. What does your insurance policy cover? What does it exclude?
- The standard homeowners insurance policy does not cover flood damage. Check to see if your policy covers debris removal and sewer back-up.
- Find out if your policy covers additional living expenses to reimburse you for the cost of living in a temporary residence if you are unable to live in your home.
- If you have jewelry or collectibles, check the limits of coverage. You may want to buy more coverage for these items.
- What is your deductible? You will have to pay at least this much if you have a covered loss.
- Be sure you understand the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value.
- It is also a good idea to review your life insurance policies to make sure you have kept them updated. Life events, such as losing a home, getting marriage, getting divorced, having a baby, retiring, etc., may change your life insurance needs.