Preparing For a Disaster and Homeowners Insurance

America is a diverse land, not just culturally, but geographically. We have earthquakes, hurricanes, blizzards, tornadoes, floods, and even a few volcanoes. Being prepared for possible disaster is the responsibility of each of us. One way to get prepared for possible disasters is by making sure your home is covered with a good homeowners insurance policy.

Get Prepared

There are many parts to planning for possible disaster. Websites such as Ready.gov or the American Red Cross have excellent resources for making an emergency plan. You can also contact your local emergency management or civil defense office to find out which disasters are more likely to occur in your area. Ask them how you will be warned in case of a disaster.

Family Meeting

Part of preparing for possible disasters is making sure everyone in the family knows the plan. Discuss the types of disasters that could occur in your area. Explain to your family how to prepare for each one and how to respond to any warnings. If it is a situation where you might be asked to evacuate your home, discuss your evacuation plan. Also, practice what you have discussed.

Stay in Contact if Separated By Disaster

Ready.gov points out that your family may not be all together when a disaster strikes. If there is a disaster do you know how to meet up with them? A simple way to prevent being lost is to pick two meeting places. The fist meeting place should be outside your home in case there is a fire. The second one should be outside of your neighborhood just in case you can not return home. You should also choose a friend or relative out of state as an emergency contact person. This person will help direct your family should someone become separated and wwill give you more information.

Some Simple Preparation Steps

You should always post emergency numbers by all your phones. In some cases, have a local fire department or police department number on speed dial. Make sure that you have smoke detectors in every room of your house and that they are in working order. Having at least one fire extinguisher in your home is also a good idea. Know how and when to shut off the water, gas, and electricity to your house in the event of a disaster. Learning first aid and CPR can help keep your family safe as well.

Meet With Your Neighbors

Plan how the neighborhood could work together after a disaster. Know your neighbor's skills (medical, technical). Consider how you could help neighbors who have special needs, such as the elderly or disabled. Make plans for child care in case parents can't get home.

Remember to familiarize yourself with your homeowners insurance policy to make sure you have the proper coverage in case of a disaster. If you need to add more coverage, it's probably a good idea to shop around and compare homeowners insurance rates. Using InsWeb.com's online homeowners quote form you can compare quotes from leading homeowners insurance providers in minutes.

Provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Ready.gov and the American Red Cross.

This information is provided for InsWeb users' general information. Contact the agencies directly for specific information and instructions.