Preparedness Best Practices
September marks National Preparedness Month, and what’s the best way to prepare for potential risks and disasters you may face? Insurance.
This month, the Iowa Insurance Institute urges you to prepare yourself, your loved ones, and your valuables against potential risks by reviewing the best practices below.
Double check (and understand) your coverage.
- Review your insurance policies. Set aside one day this month to review your homeowners, renters, car, and flood insurance policies to ensure each aligns with your current needs. They may have changed since the last time you checked!
- Know what you’re at an increased risk for. Iowa is notorious for severe weather, including flooding and tornadoes. Learn how each could affect you, and what to do if one should occur.
Prepare for the worst. Hope for the best.
- Conduct a home inventory detailing everything you own and the estimated cost to replace the items. This will help determine how much coverage you should have on your home to replace these items.
- Create a preparedness kit in case of an emergency. This kit should include nonnegotiable items such as drinking water, nonperishable food, a can opener, flashlights or portable lanterns with extra batteries, a first aid kit, and a crank or battery-operated radio. Keep this kit in an easily accessible spot that you can easily grab in case of an emergency. Consider including important physical documents (like insurance policies and medical records) in your emergency kit as well.
- Have a conversation with your household about what your plan will be in case of an emergency. It might not always be easy, but it’s important. Be sure to include plans for children, seniors, the disabled, and furry friends. More information on how to put a plan together can be found at gov.
Include post-disaster items in your preparation.
- Most preparation involves before a disaster, but what about after? The first thing you’ll need to do is ensure you and your loved ones are safe. Then, you can begin the post-disaster claims process by reporting a claim, estimating damage, and determining coverage. Save this post-disaster claims guide from the Iowa Insurance Division, should you ever need it.
- While making your claim, watch out for potential scams. Fraudsters prey on folks who have recently experienced a disaster. It can be hard to distinguish sincerity from a scam, so stay alert, do your research on contractors and insurance adjusters, and stay in touch with your insurer or insurance company representative.
While disasters can’t be prevented, you can prepare for them. Follow the above to ensure your safety and minimize risk year-round!
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