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| Protect Yourself and Your Financial Future with Disaster Planning
By Sharon Secor Direct Lending Solutions Staff Writer
When disaster strikes, it can leave your world and your finances in ruins. In addition to avoiding personal injury and even death, preparation can help lessen the degree to which a disaster affects you financially. Investing a small amount of your time and money in making sure that you are prepared for some of the more challenging circumstances that life has to offer can make a significant difference in how well you and your family are able to come through a disaster situation. Information is the first step in disaster planning. Naturally, the most important information to have is that relating to keeping life and limb safe. However, once you’ve taken the steps to learn how to stay safe physically, the next move should be to find out about how to mitigate the fiscal damage a disaster can bring. There are numerous types of natural disasters, but the basic steps for preparation are similar, whatever region you may live in. Whether dealing with storms, floods, earthquakes, or other types of disasters, you should expect that in the aftermath, basic services – such as water and electricity – may be disrupted. You’ll need to bear that in mind when making disaster preparations. Ready America, a site put forth by the Department of Homeland Security, offers a wealth of practical and valuable information about disaster preparedness, covering a broad range of disaster types and offering specific suggestions for each. These disaster readiness descriptions are, for the most part, built upon what they call “a basic emergency supply kit.” When reviewing the suggested supplies for this kit, you’ll note that they take into consideration, as you also should, that there may not be access to water and electricity. A basic disaster preparation kit is designed to cover three days of hardship. The contents of this basic kit include a gallon of water for each person per day, nonperishable foods sufficient for three days, a can opener, a radio and flashlight, extra batteries for both, and supplies for dealing with personal waste products, such as baby wipes and plastic bags. You’ll also want to be sure to have a first aid kit and any essential medications, as well as paper money and coins. It is a good idea, if you have a vehicle, to have at least a half a tank of fuel, just in case evacuation becomes necessary. Once a basic type of disaster preparation kit has been assembled, the next step is to regionalize your disaster preparations, to prepare for the specific types of disasters most likely to occur in your area. The Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastal regions have a hurricane risk, which is at its highest between June 1 and November 30. In the central plains part of the United States is a region known as Tornado Alley, as this area has a higher tornado risk than other parts of the nation. The west coast has earthquakes and wild fires and the parts of the nation known for cold during the winter season are subject to the affects of harsh weather conditions. Each of these types of natural disasters presents different sorts of challenges that should be prepared for, such as protection against the cold or means of evacuation. After taking the time to protect life and limb by adding items best suited to the potential disasters typical of your region to your basic kit and devising an evacuation plan, you’re ready to move on to planning to protect your property in the event of disaster. For regions that have storms with high wind speeds, such as hurricanes, property protection is easier when approached in an organized fashion. Pre-cut boards stored with the equipment necessary to attach them can save windows. There are a variety of means of re-enforcing your home structurally if you live in an area that is prone to earthquakes, and it is also a good idea to secure large items that could tip or fall and be damaged or cause damage. In areas frequently threatened by wild fires, use landscaping strategies that can reduce the chance of fire spreading to your home. There are a variety of ways to help reduce property damage, and a little research can help you to be well prepared for the potential disasters of your specific region. Another important means of protecting your property and financial future is to be sure to seek out and maintain appropriate insurance coverage. That requires some effort, as it is essential to deal with reputable insurers, otherwise you could find yourself in the position of so many others – having paid premiums for years, only to find out that the small print of the policy holds ugly surprises or the company itself is less than ethical. Despite the best preparation possible, in some circumstances, serious loss or damage cannot be prevented. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the resources available to assist during and after a disaster. The Federal Emergency Management Agency features a broad range of information about what to do after a disaster and also offers numerous resources that can be valuable in helping you to rebuild your home and life. Preparing for natural disasters and catastrophic events can make a real difference in how well you and your family are able to come through the event. Taking steps to secure and protect property can help to reduce losses that can have a devastating affect on finances. Fortunately, there is a wealth of information available to help you to do those things as successfully as possible, as well as numerous resources to help in recovering and rebuilding after a disaster has struck. Useful Resources:
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