Tampa - In an instant, a natural disaster can take a home from happy to havoc. To help homeowners get through this difficult time, the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) has outlined key steps to begin the recovery process in a new free brochure.
"You Can Go Home Again – Returning Home After A Natural Disaster," is focused on helping homeowners work with their insurance company representatives. Tips in the guide include:
Reporting the loss as soon as possible
Protecting yourself
Protecting your property
Preparing a list of damaged or lost items
Keeping receipts
Returning claim forms
The brochure also includes a list of questions people frequently ask their insurance representatives after a major loss due to a disaster. Having the list during the first contact with the insurer will help expedite the process and avoid multiple follow-up calls.
Contact information for additional recovery resources, like the American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Insurance Information Institute, are also listed.
As the rebuilding process begins, the IBHS brochure also suggests asking the contractor about features that would help make the home better able to resist natural disasters in the future. It also recommends finding out whether there are any applicable building code requirements along these lines.
You Can Go Home Again – Returning Home After A Natural Disaster and other publications are available on the IBHS web site, www.disastersafety.org, or request a copy by calling toll free 1 (866) 657-IBHS (4247).
The Institute for Business & Home Safety is a national nonprofit initiative of the insurance industry to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, economic losses and human suffering caused by natural disasters.
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