Be Prepared for a Disaster
Independent insurance agents not only advise clients about insurance, but they’re disaster
readiness consultants. We recommend meeting with a Trusted Choice® independent
insurance agent who can consult with you in assessing your risks and ensuring that you, your
family and your home are prepared in the event of a disaster. Trusted Choice® offers many disaster-specific readiness and recovery tips for consumers.
- Prepare a home inventory and storm proofing
- Flood
- Hurricane
- Thunderstorm
- Tornado
- Earthquake
- Wildfires
GETTING STARTED
A good way to begin your planning process is to gather as much information as you can.
There are numerous resources available to guide you through the process of getting your
household prepared to deal with a disaster. Trusted Choice® offers many
disaster-specific readiness and recovery tips for consumers including the following
suggestions to get started:
• Make a list of each of your insurance policy numbers and the insurance company name,
and keep the information in your wallet, purse, or on your mobile device. For example,
nearly all states use some form of a wallet-size auto ID card, which is required to be kept
on your person, or in the vehicle. It's a good idea to do have similar information with you
on all your other insurance coverages.
• Make a record of your insurance agent's web site address, and keep this information in
your wallet, purse or mobile device. After a widespread catastrophe, more and more
agencies post information about claims procedures on their web site. This is especially
important in cases where the agency itself has been affected, and has set up temporary
operations at another location. In addition, agency web sites will usually post emergency
insurance claim phone numbers, etc.
• Use social media to contact your insurance agent. Many agencies use some form of
social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, etc., and these information outlets can provide
vital, timely information about claims procedures and other necessary information for
policyholders.
• Find out how you and your neighbors would be informed about an imminent disaster.
• Ask if evacuation routes have been established.
• Contact your city's or town's planning and emergency assistance organizations. Ask
them for information about disaster planning.
• Contact your children's school(s) or day care center to learn about the emergency plans
they have in place.
• If a family member is in an elder care facility, check to see what emergency procedures
they will follow.
• Take a First Aid/CPR class from the American Red Cross.
• If you have pets, have a contingency plan in place. Many emergency shelters won't
accept them.
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