by California Casualty | Good to Know |
Whether it’s a flood, tornado, hurricane or earthquake, a natural disaster can turn your world upside down in a matter of seconds. Besides stress, adrenaline, and fear, there may be injuries to deal with and damage or loss of property. Many people don’t know what to do in the wake of a disaster, which can hinder their coping efforts and recovery.
Here’s a list of the 6 main steps to take immediately following a natural disaster and in the days, weeks, and months that follow.
- Deal with the Immediate Aftermath
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- Make sure all household members are accounted for. If anyone is missing, seek help from first responders.
- Attend to physical injuries or emotional distress. In cases of serious injury, summon professional help.
- If you and your family need to evacuate, follow your family’s evacuation plan, grabbing emergency kits, go bags, and essentials as assigned.
- Notify family and friends that you’re safe. If you can’t connect directly, you can register with FEMA’s emergency family locator online or by calling 1-800-588-9822. See more FCC & FEMA communication tips here.
- Be aware of any new safety issues created by the disaster, such as damaged roads/bridges, chemical spills, downed power lines, and washed-out roads. Inform local authorities if possible.
- Find Temporary Shelter or Housing
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- If your home is damaged and rendered uninhabitable, take photos of the damage, remove any valuables you can, and secure the property. Call your insurance company as soon as you’re able.
- If you need to find an open emergency shelter near you right away, you can text SHELTER and your 5-digit zip code to 4FEMA. You can also use the FEMA Mobile App.
- gov also has shelter resources online.
- If you need to secure a hotel or other short-term housing, check FEMA’s resources for interim housing.
- Remember that COVID-19 safety and health precautions may still be in effect so be sure to protect yourself and your family and stay informed on general guidelines.
- If you have a pet, be sure to ask all sheltering or housing inquiries if pets are allowed.
- Keep all your receipts from temporary housing costs, as you can most likely submit them for reimbursement.
- Emergency Food and Water
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- Listen to local radio or television to find disaster feeding sites.
- Check with local agencies, emergency shelters, and food banks for food assistance.
- If you have to boil or otherwise disinfect water, follow the proper guidelines.
- Seek Disaster Assistance
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- Check local radio and media for information on housing, food, first aid, clothing, and financial assistance.
- The American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and other volunteer organizations also provide assistance, supplies and help with clean-up efforts.
- FEMA helps homeowners and renters who have lost their homes as a result of a presidentially-declared disaster. Assistance includes temporary housing, counseling, low-interest loans and grants, and other assistance. Register at gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA. You’ll need your:
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- social security number
- telephone number
- insurance information, address (location of damaged home and current address)
- total household annual income
- routing and account number for bank account
- a description of damage and losses
- Returning Home
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- Wait until your area is declared safe.
- If returning at night, use a flashlight to inspect your home and property. Keep an eye out for animals, including dangerous ones such as venomous snakes.
- Inspect the property and perimeter first, checking for hazards such as gas leaks, downed power lines, and structural damage. Do not enter if you smell gas, see floodwaters, or if there’s fire damage.
- If you do enter your home, you’ll need to be extremely cautious. Follow the dos and don’ts of inspecting your home in FEMA’s guide here.
- Replacing Lost Records & Protecting Your Property
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- Ideally, your important records and financial documents were part of your emergency kit.
- If you need to replace records such as birth certificates, driver’s licenses, marriage certificates or social security cards, follow the instructions at USA.gov here.
- Contact your creditors to inform them of the situation and work with them for current and ongoing payments.
- If the disaster is a declared Federal disaster, you may be eligible for federal income tax deductions. Check with your tax planner.
- If a member of your family is injured and you’re caring for them, check with your employer to see if you’re eligible for the Family Medical Leave Act or disability benefits.
While checklists and logistical aspects all need to be dealt with, also keep in mind the mental toll that natural disasters exert. Seek help if you can, take breaks and walks, and practice self-care. Remember that children are especially affected. Community and support networks are especially important in times like these — lean on them when you need support, and offer help to others when you have some extra energy to give.
by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info, Safety |
An earthquake, flood, fire, or severe storm can strike at any time — and you and your family may not be together when it does.
How will you find each other if separated? What about household members who have medical conditions? And what if your cell phones or networks are out of power?
Crafting an emergency plan before a disaster hits gives you time to discuss your family’s needs and circumstances, review possible scenarios, and decide on the best options together. Schedule a time when the whole family can participate. You may need one or two additional meetings to finalize all the details.
Here’s what you’ll need to cover:
1. Make A Plan of Action
Smart planning entails talking through a number of situations and “what-ifs.” Start by brainstorming around the following (and remember that coronavirus may affect some answers).
- What natural disasters are we most likely to experience?
- How will we receive emergency alerts and warnings?
- What are the escape or evacuation routes from our house?
- What is our shelter plan?
2. If Your Family is Separated
Re-opening across the country means parents may be going back to work and kids back to school. Are there other locations, such as after-school programs, childcare, gyms or volunteer sites that family members regularly attend? Consider those when answering the following:
- If separated during an emergency, where should we meet near our home?
- If meeting near home is impossible for some or all family members, what’s our meeting place?
- If we are separated, who is our emergency contact outside of our immediate area?
3. Specific Needs of Family Members
Remember to tailor your plan to address any particular needs of/by family members, such as:
- Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment
- Dietary needs
- Medical conditions, disabilities or functional needs, especially those requiring devices and equipment
- Language barriers or limitations
- Ages of all household members, including school-aged children
- Pets or service animals
- Religious and cultural considerations
5. Fill Out the Plan
After discussing the above, it’s time to get it all down on paper. Be sure to capture the following as well.
- All the contact information for each household member.
- Who’s responsible for what during the disaster? Tasks might include things like retrieving the disaster kit, evacuating pets, and fielding disaster updates and alerts.
- Create a personal network of friends, family or neighbors for things you might need help with.
- Make sure you have one or more out-of-town contacts for emergencies.
- Numbers for important contacts such as utilities, financial companies, childcare and caregivers, veterinarians, and insurance companies.
6. Share & Practice
During an emergency, cellular networks and wi-fi may be unreliable, and computers and phones may be lost or out of power. In these cases, having a paper copy of your family disaster plan can save precious time, minimize stress and prevent unnecessary emergencies. So, make sure each family member has a copy and carries it with them in a purse, backpack or work bag (here’s a template plan that fits in your wallet). Have regular family meetings to review the plan and practice. Finally, do a thorough review every 6 months or so, to update information or responsibilities.
7. Resources
Check out these resources to get your plan disaster-ready.
The perfect time to make a plan is right now. Getting all your family members on board and in the know sooner rather than later will ensure that you’re all ready when you need to be.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
by California Casualty | Health, Safety |
Emergency preparedness will help you and your family stay safe in the event of a disaster. House fires, flash flooding, and natural disasters can happen anywhere at any time, and as we move into summer- hurricane and wildfire season, the risk for an emergency is even greater.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) has completely changed the way we interact with others- and will for the foreseeable future. That’s why it’s important to take action now to make sure you and your family are prepared for an emergency situation, while still taking the proper precautions to avoid COVID-19.
Here’s how to be prepared for an emergency during the middle of a pandemic.
Make a Preparedness Kit
Emergency Preparedness Kits are kits built for you and your family to have in the event of a disaster. These kits include all essential items that you would need to survive i.e. bottled water, toilet paper, copies of important documents, medication, food, chargers, hygiene items, etc.
The Red Cross recommends that during COVID-19, you should assemble two different emergency kits for you and your family.
Stay-At-Home Kit- This kit should include 2 weeks of emergency supplies. In the event that you or your family are exposed to the virus and you have to self-quarantine you should have everything that you would need to survive for 2 weeks without leaving your home.
Evacuation Kit- This kit should include 3 days of supplies in a “go bag”. It should hold all of your basic needs, yet be lightweight and easy to grab/carry in the event of an emergency evacuation. It is recommended that you have enough supplies for 72 hours. This also includes supplies for your health and safety in large crowds i.e. face masks, sanitizer, alcohol wipes, etc.
The Red Cross also recommends that each kit should have a 1 month supply of prescription medication along with fever-reducing medicine and cough suppressants.
Other Disaster Planning Tips
Making a disaster plan during a pandemic requires planning ahead, because of the need for social distancing. In the event of a natural disaster, sheltering in large buildings like school gyms and community centers may no longer be an option, and you will have to seek shelter elsewhere.
Here are some tips, the Red Cross recommends, to help you and your family develop a disaster plan.
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- Register for emergency alerts
- Stay up-to-date on COVID-19 advice and restrictions for your state
- Have an evacuation transportation plan
- Have a safe destination set for your family to meet, if you become separated
- Research open lodging (campgrounds, hotels, shelters) and their restrictions, in the event of an evacuation
- Keep enough PPE, disinfectant, and medicine in your emergency kit for your family
- Do not stay with friends or family who have been exposed to COVID-19, are experiencing symptoms, or are at a higher risk of developing the virus
- If you think you have COVID-19 or have been exposed- self-quarantine, keep your distance (if possible), and contact your doctor as soon as you are safe and able.
For more tips click here.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info, Safety |
Unpredictable weather is a trademark of spring: 73° and deliciously sunny one day, 41°, and sideways rain the next.
Fluctuating weather during this time of year also plays a major factor in the development of severe spring storms. However, with the right preparation, you can be sure that your home and family are ready to withstand the worst of it.
Follow these preparation tips to be sure you are spring storm-ready.
Be Weather Aware — You can sign up for a number of free weather alert services provided by national or local agencies, weather channels, and power companies. Usually, alerts come to your phone via text message or app, but many have multiple delivery methods. And remember, radio is the old standby, especially in a power outage (so set your emergency radio to the correct station ahead of time).
Trim the Trees — Trim low-hanging limbs, as well as any branches hanging near your home or power lines that could snap off in high winds and cause damage.
Free Your Gutters — Remove leaves and other debris from gutters, drains, and downspouts (best done each spring and fall). This ensures that any deluge of rainwater is quickly diverted away from your home and foundation rather than potentially flooding it. Take the opportunity to check gutters for leaks, damage, and sagging; also make sure they’re securely attached.
Check the Sump Pump — If you haven’t had to deal with a flooded basement, thanks are due to your hardworking sump pump. To keep it in good working order, test it a few times a year, including before spring storms. Clear any debris and make sure it’s working and draining properly. Consider adding a battery-powered back-up pump, or a standby generator, in case of power outages.
Get Ahead of Leaks — Leaks are sneaky … and can cause damage quickly. If you’ve had any leaks in the past, now’s the time to seal them up—before the big rains start. Also do a preventive check on your doors’ and windows’ sealing (inside and outside), as well as in the garage and basement, then fix any gaps or cracks.
Secure Items — By the time the wind is bending trees, it’s too late to worry about securing items in your yard. As soon as storms are forecast, bring items like patio furniture into the garage (or secure them in place outside). Anything that can become a projectile should be moved inside. Also close and secure shutters around your home. Drawing interior blinds and shades provide yet another layer of protection against flying debris and broken glass.
Get Your Plans in Place — When the storms roll in, you’ll be glad you made plans ahead of time.
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- Storm Safety Plan — Create a safety plan with your family, and make sure everyone understands it and is on board. This would cover things like shelter-in-place locations in the home, evacuation routes, communication protocols if you’re separated, and a plan for your pets.
- Emergency Kit — Regularly check your kit and add, replace or discard items as needed. See our checklist here for a full emergency kit inventory. At the very least, prepare the following for storms: first aid supplies, flashlights with new batteries, two gallons of water per person, a hand-crank or battery-powered radio, a three-day supply of non-perishable food for your family and pets, and a two-month supply of any necessary medications.
- Be Ready for a Power Outage — Are you ready for a few days of no power? Charge all phones and electronic devices ahead of time. Make sure your generator is operational and ready to go. Fill your car’s gas tank (and some cans for your generator). For more tips, check out our power outage safety hacks. Finally, remember to use surge protectors when the power is being restored.
As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When it comes to safeguarding your home, the steps above can go a long way toward preventing costly damage, headache, and hassle. And there’s no time like the present to start!
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
by California Casualty | Homeowners Insurance Info |
The plumbing in your home could be in danger when temperatures dip below zero, and the last thing you want to deal with when it thaws is a burst pipe, which can lead to substantial damage in your home.
All that water can eat through drywall, destroy carpets and fry electronics. The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates that just two inches of water can cause more than $10,000 in repairs and replacement of flooded items. Six inches of water can add up to more than $30,000!
Before the thermometer plunges, here are things you can do to prevent pipes from freezing:
- Disconnect outside hoses from faucets
- Insulate water pipes, especially along exterior walls and unheated areas
- Add insulation to walls and attics where pipes may run
- Know where the shutoff valve is to your home
Once the sub-zero weather hits you should:
- Let faucets drip to prevent freezing
- Keep the thermostat above 55 degrees
- Make sure garage doors are closed
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets to allow warm air to circulate around the plumbing
So you’ve prepared and kept as much heat as possible going to cold areas, but the cold air still froze a pipe; what now? Stay calm but act as quickly as possible to:
- Locate where the pipe is frozen
- Open the nearest faucet to relieve pressure when the ice thaws
- Slowly warm the pipe with a heating pad, hairdryer, space heater or wrapping it with hot towels – never use a blow torch or open flame
If the pipe has cracked or broken, immediately turn off water at the main water valve and call a plumber. Shutting off the water will prevent further damage.
And if you have damage from a broken water pipe:
- Try to prevent further damage
- Contact your insurance company as soon as possible
- Take photos or video of the damage
- Don’t make permanent repairs until the insurance company adjuster inspects the damage
- Keep all of your receipts for emergency repair work or temporary housing if you are forced out of your home or apartment
Once a pipe freezes, odds are it will happen again. Here are some tips to prevent it in the future:
- Hire a plumber to relocate to a warmer area
- Add more insulation in walls, attics and crawl spaces
- Wrap the pipe with electric heat tape, when temperatures drop, plug it in
Remember, if a burst pipe sends water into your home, contact a California Casualty Claims advisor as soon as possible; we can help get you started on the clean-up.
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This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
