By: Wendy Paris
Published: August 28, 2009 on houselogic.com
Preparing and keeping a fully stocked home emergency preparedness kit could be the key to your family’s safety if disaster strikes.
First, make sure important papers are in order
If a flood destroys your home, you could spend weeks or even months just trying to re-create the essential documents you’ll need to get back on track. Even if it’s not destroyed then it can still take weeks for people like ServiceMaster of Lake Shore (https://servicemasteroflakeshore.com/water-removal-services-chicago/) to remove all of the water. That’s why it’s critical to have backups of important papers, including the deed to your house, proof of insurance, medical records, passports, social security cards, and a list of personal contacts. Keep one copy at home in a portable case and another offsite in a safe place. And while you’re at it, use the opportunity to check whether your insurance is up to date. “People often don’t know what their homeowners’ insurance policy covers, and most don’t cover flooding,” points out Bissell. Find out what hazards your area faces, and make sure you’re protected against them.
Tailor a preparedness kit to your personal needs
Humanitarian organizations and government aid agencies offer guidelines for creating an emergency preparedness kit. But along with the basics like food and water, it’s important to have what you need for your particular situation. It may also be worth getting an emergency first aid kit and getting some training from somewhere like Coast2Coast First Aid and Aquatics to ensure you’re ready for any accident that could take place. You may not need extra blankets in southern California, but you do need escape ladders in case of wildfire. And you’ll want extra extra blankets to survive a winter power outage in Maine