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6 Tips From Home Disaster Survivors
Looking back at 2007, it sure seems like nature had
it in for the suburbs. The whole country was beset by
weather related disasters. We had wildfires in Southern
California, ice storms in the Midwest, and flooding
in the Northeast. It was devastating for those affected,
and chilling for everyone else. The damaged homes on
the news were ordinary suburban homes. It was so easy
to imagine it happening to us or someone we loved. The
truth is that our homes are susceptible to fire and
water damage. They are lovely straw houses, waiting
for an accident, a little negligence, or the perfect
storm.
So what should we do to prepare?
If you want to recover financially from a home disaster,
there are two things you need to protect: your digital
information and your physical possessions. Vanessa Wood
of Design to Spec, LLC http://www.DesignToSpec.com/
was one of those unlucky people whose home was flooded
on four separate occasions in 2007. She gives us three
tips for protecting our digital files and connections:
1. Don't touch that computer! Whether your computer
has been under water, smoke damaged, or hit by debris,
it might not be safe to touch immediately after a disaster.
Unplug your computer so it will not experience a power
surge when downed power is turned back on. Allow a professional
PC consultant to examine the hard drive. A good consultant
can recommend a sterile lab that is expert at the recovery
of valuable data and files.
2. Store hard to replace records and files on a server.
This could even be the same server that hosts your website.
Taking this extra step may entail scanning documents
and choosing to accept bank records in a digital format.
Not only will you have your records in a safe location,
but you will free up space in your filing cabinets and
shelves. Check with your tax advisor to verify which
records can be held as digital records, rather than
paper.
3. Stay mobile. Stay flexible. You may not be home
for awhile. You might have to handle your finances or
an insurance claim from a friend's house, library or
hotel. Be sure your laptop has the programs you use
everyday. Know how to forward your phone numbers to
your cell phone. If you use an email address that's
derived from your internet cable service (for example,
janedoe@optonline.net) know your service password so
you can read emails as web mail because a storm, fire
or other disaster may knock out your local cable service
connection. Remember, too, that online banking services
can be invaluable when trying to manage bill payments
in a crisis.
What about your physical possessions? You should ask
yourself how much it would cost if you had to replace
all your belongings yourself. Even if you have home
insurance, your initial estimate might be closer to
reality than you thought. A client of mine, Julie, lost
all the contents of her home when her condo complex
burnt to the ground. She offers three tips for protecting
and recovering your physical belongings:
1. Do not be underinsured. If you purchase big ticket
items, or remodel, make sure you update your insurance
policy to cover all your new additions.
2. Keep detailed records of all estimates, transactions
and conversations. Julie had to go over her agent's
head to a supervisor to get the rest of the money that
she was owed for her insurance claim. She was able to
do this because she kept notes and copies of everything
she mailed and faxed.
3. Don't keep your important documents in your home.
Keep your passport and other important documents in
a safe location. Julie's home safe didn't withstand
the heat of the fire and all was lost. If you must keep
the originals at home, keep copies in a separate safe
location, like a safety deposit box at your bank.
My hope is that everyone affected in the disasters
of 2007 were well prepared, but I know some are probably
still struggling to recover what they lost. Make sure
you're prepared for disaster by following the tips above.
Author: Jill Russo Foster
Jill Russo Foster provides practical tips for everyday
finance. Learn more about protecting your credit and
living within your means with Jill's popular free report,
bi-monthly ezine, and credit report reminder program,
available here ==> http://www.themortgagearrangers.com/resources.asp
Keywords : Everyday finance, protecting your investments,
fire damage, flood damage
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