Hurricane Damage and Repair-Be Prepared Before and After the Storm

Now that the 2010 hurricane season has begun, residents in the Gulf Coast region and people living along the eastern coastline of the U.S. must keep an eye on the sky as well as the local news and weather reports. Pre-planning a hurricane disaster is one of the most crucial aspects of storm preparedness and the number one priority with hurricanes is for the personal safety of you and your family.

The advancements made in storm prediction technology have enabled property owners to take the necessary steps to safeguard themselves and their homes against some of the harsh elements a hurricane can dish out. It is advisable to board up windows, place unsecured items inside structures and remove valuables from the residence to a place far out of the storm’s reach. It is important to have essentials ready in the case that an evacuation is ordered. This includes a first aid kit, lots of drinking water, non-perishable food, flashlights, radio w/ batteries, blankets, medications and dry clothing and rain gear.

You should have a evacuation plan in place and be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Turn off your utilities before leaving and nail a plastic-covered note to the outside of your door so that authorities know that you have evacuated and where you went. Include your cell phone number on the note as well as the names of all who left with you.

It is also important to know what to do following the storm. If you were forced to leave your home and are returning for the first time, be sure to check your yard for downed power lines and if found, do not go near them. Check your roof for loose shingles or leaks. If you find damage, contact your insurance company right away and while you wait for help to arrive, cover the hole with a tarp, which hopefully you will have on hand.

Do not use the tap water until you have been given the ‘all clear’ by the local utility board because quite often it has become contaminated due to flooding. If there is floodwater inside your home, call a storm damage restoration company right away for help. These experts know how to handle storm-flooded homes and will usually arrive shortly after being contacted. Last but not least, be safe and do not take any chances. Avoid walking in flooded areas and take care that your children and pets are safe and dry.

Protecting Yourself from Natural Disasters

Sadly, in the United States we are prone to a huge variety of natural phenomena which all cause great devastation. From the rampaging wild fires and earthquakes of the West, to the floods of the East; the Mid-West tornadoes and the hurricanes in the South, it seems we cannot avoid the wrath of the elements. The physical, psychological and economic cost of these disasters is almost unreckonable – one only has to think back to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 – one of the costliest and deadliest in our recorded history.

Being natural phenomena, there is nothing we can do to prevent them, but there are steps we can take to minimize the damage to our homes and our property during the onslaught, and particularly during the aftermath. When we think of protecting ourselves, we usually think in terms of real estate: storm-proofing our homes to make everything safe. But there is a darker side to these natural disasters which is entirely man-made, and of which we should always be aware.

I am talking about those human vultures that seize such opportunities as these to commit crimes; pillaging property for valuables and, in more recent years, dealing in the increasingly lucrative business of identity theft. No-one wants to think about such eventualities but we really should as identify theft is on the increase and we should safeguard this in exactly the same way we would our jewels and precious heirlooms.

Assessing risks and devising an identity protection plan is best done in the calm before the storm, as in the panic of the aftermath it will almost certainly be too late. Begin by collecting together all personal information, such as passports, driver’s licenses, birth, marriage and death certificates, social security details, utility bills, leases, mortgages and insurance documents and all financial documentation such as bank and credit card statements, loan information, tax returns, investment portfolios etc. Keep these together in the safest place you can find, preferably in a strongbox or safe and inside a sturdy, waterproof container or bag which can be retrieved quickly and easily in an emergency.

Next make a list of outside agencies or businesses which hold personal information about you and contact all of them after the storm to make sure your information has remained secure. Go through your paperwork regularly and dispose of any unwanted documents using a shredder. Keeping on top of paperwork is a chore, but one you will be thankful you did in the event of a disaster. Safeguarding your identity is nothing more than commonsense but these few simple steps could save you endless stress, worry and future financial loss.