September is National Preparedness Month, making it a great time to think about something we often put off until we need it: being prepared for an emergency.
Severe storms, power outages, fires, flooding, and other unexpected events can happen with little warning. While you can’t always prevent an emergency, you can take steps now to make sure your family knows what to do and has the supplies and information needed to respond.
Here are some simple ways to get your household prepared.
Build an Emergency Kit
An emergency kit can help your family get through the first few hours or days following an unexpected event. Keep your supplies together in a place that’s easy to access.
Consider including:
- Bottled water and nonperishable food
- Flashlights and extra batteries
- First aid supplies
- Battery powered or hand crank radio
- Phone chargers and backup power banks
- Necessary medications
- Blankets and warm clothing
- Basic tools
- Pet food and supplies
- Copies of important documents
- Cash in small denominations
Check your supplies periodically and replace anything that has expired or is no longer usable.
Make a Family Emergency Plan
Everyone in your household should know what to do if you need to leave your home or can’t communicate normally.
Talk about:
- Where you’ll go if you need to evacuate
- Multiple ways to leave your home or neighborhood
- Where family members should meet if you’re separated
- Who you will contact outside your immediate area
- How you’ll communicate if cell service is limited
- How you’ll get in touch with children if they’re at school
- What to do with pets
Your plan should account for different situations. The best evacuation route during a fire may not be the same route you would use during flooding or severe weather.
Know Where Your Important Documents Are
In an emergency, you may need quick access to your important information. Make sure you know where to find documents such as:
- Insurance policies
- Identification
- Medicare information
- Financial records
- Vehicle information
- Mortgage or lease documents
- Contact information for your insurance agent and other important providers
Consider keeping digital copies of important documents in a secure location as well.
Having your insurance information readily available can be especially helpful when you’re dealing with a loss.
Create a Home Inventory
Do you know what you own and approximately what it’s worth?
If you had to make an insurance claim after a fire, theft, or other covered loss, having a home inventory could make documenting your belongings much easier.
Walk through your home and take photos or videos of your belongings. For higher value items, keep receipts, model numbers, serial numbers, appraisals, or other documentation when available.
Don’t forget areas that are easy to overlook, such as:
- Garages
- Basements
- Attics
- Sheds
- Home offices
- Closets
- Recreational equipment
Store your inventory somewhere safe and accessible outside your home.
Know How to Shut Off Utilities
Do you know where the main water, gas, and electrical shutoffs are in your home?
Make sure the adults in your household know how to safely shut off utilities if necessary. Understanding where these controls are located before an emergency happens can save valuable time.
If you’re unsure how to operate a particular shutoff, contact the appropriate utility company or a qualified professional for guidance.
Prepare for Power Outages
Power outages can happen during severe storms, extreme temperatures, or other unexpected events.
Make sure you have flashlights, batteries, portable chargers, and other necessities available. If anyone in your household relies on electrically powered medical equipment, talk with your medical provider and utility company about an emergency plan.
It is also a good idea to know how to safely use generators. Never operate a generator inside your home, garage, basement, or another enclosed space because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Don’t Forget Your Pets
Your emergency plan should include every member of your household, including your pets.
Keep extra food, water, medications, leashes, carriers, and other necessary supplies available. Make sure your pets have identification and that you know which shelters or hotels in your area accept animals if you need to evacuate.
Having a recent photo of your pet can also be helpful if you become separated.
Review Your Insurance Coverage
Preparedness isn’t just about having supplies. It’s also about understanding how your insurance could help you recover after an unexpected loss.
Take some time to review your homeowners, renters, auto, flood, and umbrella coverage. Pay attention to deductibles, coverage limits, exclusions, and any special coverage that may apply to your circumstances.
It’s also important to remember that not every type of damage is covered by a standard homeowner’s policy. For example, flood damage typically requires separate flood insurance.
If you’ve made significant changes to your home, purchased expensive belongings, added a vehicle, or experienced another major change since your last insurance review, let your insurance professional know.
Keep Your Insurance Information Accessible
When an emergency happens, you don’t want to spend time searching for your insurance information.
With Gannon Access, Gannon Associates Insurance clients can access their policies, insurance ID cards, certificates of insurance, and claims information when they need it.
Having that information available from your phone or computer can make it easier to find important details when you’re away from home or dealing with an unexpected situation.
Review Your Plan Every Year
Preparedness isn’t something you do once and forget about.
Set aside time each year to review your emergency supplies and update your plan. Make sure emergency contacts are current, replace expired supplies, update your home inventory, and make sure everyone in the household understands the plan.
Your family’s needs can change quickly. A new baby, a child heading off to college, a new pet, a new home, or changes to your household can all affect your emergency plan.
Prepared today, More Confident Tomorrow
You can’t predict when an emergency will happen, but you can take steps to be better prepared when it does.
National Preparedness Month is a great reminder to take a few simple steps now. Build an emergency kit, create a family plan, document your belongings, organize your important information, and review your insurance coverage.
At Gannon Associates Insurance, we’re here to help you understand your coverage and make sure your insurance keeps pace with your family’s needs.
