Don’t Wait For Bad Weather To Reach You – Have A Plan Ahead Of Problems

Don’t Wait For Bad Weather To Reach You – Have A Plan Ahead Of Problems

There have been so many heartbreaking stories in the news lately of people losing their homes, their possessions, and their livelihoods because of terrible weather. It certainly makes us all pause for thought as we wonder how we would cope if it happened to us. Where would your kids sleep, and how would you make repairs to your property? Would you know who to call and where to go for help?

Most of us have an emergency plan in place should we be caught in a house fire. We practice our exit route and make sure the fire alarms are working. But what do you do after the fire is out? The same applies to flooding, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Few of us have a plan of action should our home be uninhabitable. Here’s how to make sure you and your family are cared for if disaster strikes:

Phone

Not everybody knows their own number. It’s important that you do this because if you need to leave it behind, you need a replacement quickly. Most of our data, like the contact details of loved ones, are stored in the cloud. Even if your phone is destroyed, you can retrieve the data and get hold of the people best suited to help you. Memorize passwords to social media accounts like Facebook. This will be the first place loved ones will look for you. Most of us have instant alerts to activity on these accounts too.

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Insurance

Lots of us have got into the habit of shopping around for our insurance every year to make sure we have the best deal. The problem with this is we can forget who our current insurer is! Make sure you always have a photo of the document or an emailed copy of any insurance policy. These will also be in the cloud waiting for you to log in from your new device. You can then contact your insurer to make a claim.

When it comes to building insurance, some companies won’t pay out for ‘Acts of God’. However, they’re not all heartless! Most insurance companies will provide immediate help and sort out a hotel and other provisions should you become homeless. Double-check your coverage next time you take out a policy.

Now, as for your vehicle, car insurance policies may cover specific damages. This is worth looking into if, for example, you reside in an area that often gets hit with bouts of extreme weather, such as hailstorms. In cases such as this, it would be worth taking out insurance with a reputable company such as Hail Specialists who will be able to help you with the claims process and have your car looking practically brand new and back on the road again in no time!

Cash

If your bank cards and cash are lost, you need to know how to get hold of your bank to give you quick access to money. You might need to pay for a hotel or buy your family a couple of meals. You might even need clothes and footwear. Fortunately, Twitter can help here. Search for your bank, and chances are you’ll find a live operator ready to tweet back a phone number you can call to get help. Never give your account details or full name on Twitter.

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Shelter

When there has been a huge-scale disaster like the ones we’ve seen on the news lately, you need to find shelter. If there is time, pack the essentials like clothes, medicines, weatherproofs, food, and water. The emergency response teams will direct you to a local shelter and may assist you with getting there.

Of course, if you are already packed to go, you can get out quicker. Why not keep a packed wheelie case or backpack with photocopies of your most important documents? You can add a fresh set of clothes for each member of the family, a couple of days of your meds, and some other essentials for an emergency. Wrap them all up in a plastic bag inside in case you need to wade through floodwater.

Return

When you have the OK to go back, you need to start finding the best people to tackle the damage. Start with insurance-approved companies like ServiceMaster that can get rid of all the hazardous materials in your home. Repairs can take time, so you need to assess if any part of your home is safe enough to be habitable. If not, hire a caravan or book a long-term hotel.

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You might have secured some of your property during the course of the year. Summer and winter maintenance checks help you keep your house in good condition. When you look after your property routinely, you can help minimize the damage that might occur during a storm. Clearing gutters, vents, and drains can help prevent problems from occurring in the first place.

We all hope nothing bad ever happens. But if you have a clear and concise plan in place, you’ll be able to cope should the worst happen. Take care.

Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
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