Squaring Up To Nature

Protecting Yourself from Natural Disasters
We watch with a mixture of sympathy and trepidation when a natural disaster hits the headlines. Whether it's an earthquake, flood, wildfire, hurricane or tornado, most of us have two things on our minds:



• What can I do to help?


• What would I do if this happened to me?


The help side of the equation depends on the nature of the incident and you can usually get information on this from major charities like the Red Cross.


When it comes to protecting yourself against disaster, there are three issues you need to address: precaution, insurance and recovery.


Precaution


You can't tame nature to prevent a disaster from happening but there are things you can do to minimize both the risks and the impact. Here's our Top Five list:


1. Establish if you're in a risk zone for any of these events. Your city or county authorities can tell you.


2. Using their guidance and online research, have a family safety plan for what to do in emergency.


3. Do anything you can now to reduce risks, from clearing brush to securing structures.


4. Buy and maintain a supply of the things you'll need from food through flashlights to sandbags.


5. Be alert to warnings about imminent high risk events.


Insurance


The recent big earthquakes in Haiti and Chile may have prompted you to think about 'quake or other disaster insurance. Cover for fire and storm damage is normally part of a homeowners policy. For 'quakes and floods, cover is available in many areas but obviously the greater the risk, the higher premiums may be. Some states and even the Federal Government may provide support towards cover for certain risks.


After Hurricane Katrina and the Haiti 'quake, a question people ask is whether they're covered against looting.


This would most likely fall under the “riot and civil commotion” portion of your homeowners policy, regardless of whether or not you have 'quake or other special cover. A disaster isn’t the trigger for the coverage; the looting is. Talk to us about this.



Recovery


How quickly you start to get back to normal depends on the scale of the incident and availability of services to help you.


Obviously, if you're insured, you should contact us or your insurer as soon as possible, to file a claim.


We hope you have arranged cover, but if you haven't you may have to draw on your own funds, or look to state or federal aid if a State of Emergency has been declared.


There are private companies specializing in disaster recovery and home restoration and, of course, builders and contractors for structural and service repairs. It's a wise move to indentify these people now as there would likely be a long waiting list if the incident was widespread.


FEMA


One of the best sources of information on dealing with a natural disaster is the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).


Despite some bad publicity after Katrina, the agency offers lots of information and assistance both in preparation for and during incidents.


Their website is http://www.fema.gov/ or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)


You Can Reach Me At: 832-533-2254


Hugo Salamanca