As the photos and videos of the recent California wildfires show, natural disasters can cause widespread wreckage. Fires, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, mudslides, and other natural disasters do not care whose lives they upend; they simply destroy everything in their path.
Perhaps it should come as no surprise, therefore, that Americans across the country are asking themselves if they are prepared to weather a natural disaster themselves. According to George Hooker, insurance claims defense attorney and partner in the Miami office of preeminent law firm Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A., here’s what homeowners need to know.
Safety is number one
For Hooker, homeowners’ number one priority should be safety for themselves and their family members. “The safety of your family has to be guaranteed,” he says. “If there’s danger, then pack up and leave. Go to a safe place and wait for it to pass.”
This advice applies to wildfires and any other major emergency. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a flood, hurricane, or any other disaster: your safety should come first,” Hooker says.
Return to the affected area only once local officials have deemed it safe. Conditions on the ground might still be challenging, however. Only go back into the disaster zone with an ample supply of necessities like gas, water, and food.
Wear protective gear and be cautious as you explore the site, looking out for unstable ground, structures that could collapse, and wildlife that may have moved in.
If you find that your property has been damaged, it’s time to record the destruction, not race to fix it.
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