In the Event of A Natural Disaster, Please Consider

3/23/2022 (Permalink)

In the event of a natural disaster, there are many factors to consider.  In the moment, a person may feel the stress, shock, and various other emotions after suffering a devastating loss to their home, such a fire loss or another natural disaster that has significantly altered their home and ability to safely dwell in it.

First and foremost, ensuring your family’s safety is top priority.

Afterward, there are a few practical steps to help you get back on track and living life as best as possible.

Here are a few topics to consider:

1. Insurance Claim-  Contact your insurance agent or insurance company as soon as possible to report the disaster and damage to your home.  They will guide you in the next steps with your claim.

2. Bills and Creditors- Contact your local utility companies, internet provider, etc, if your home is temporarily or permanently uninhabitable, so they may turn off service immediately and you can stop paying unnecessary services for the moment.  Contact any creditors you may have and ask for an extension to pay, due to the circumstances.  Most creditors are willing to work with their consumers, and especially if they are notified before the payment’s due date.

3. Replacing Vital Documents After a Fire/ Natural Disaster Loss – There are many documents that may need to be replaced if they have been lost or damaged due to a fire or other natural disaster. The Red Cross has provided a very resourceful article on where to replace vital documents in the event of a natural disaster here, which includes, government issued IDs’, passports, birth, death & marriage certificates and much more.  To access this list:  https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/recovering-financially.html

4. Recovering Emotionally – Recovering emotionally from a severe loss is critical in a person’s overall health and wellbeing. There are many different ways to cope and seek healing, and this can be different from individual to individual.  A resource available, among many others is located here:  https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/recovering-emotionally.html

Please keep in mind, recovering from a significant loss takes time.  Please seek help in any and all necessary measures to safeguard your mental, emotional and physical health.  The American Red Cross, (Redcross.org,) is a distinguished resource with many related subjects pertaining to fire loss/ natural disaster loss & recovery.   We hope this article is of help to you and your family should you experience a natural disaster.