Disaster Preparedness

National Preparedness Month

Insurance + Preparedness: Keys to surviving and recovering from disasters

September is National Preparedness Month, a reminder that disasters don’t wait for a convenient time. The NW Insurance Council is joining local, state, and federal agencies in urging Northwest families and businesses to prepare now, before disaster strikes.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, we live with unique risks: earthquakes, tsunamis, wind and rainstorms and, more than ever, devastating wildfires. Taking time today to plan and review your insurance coverage can mean the difference between a long, difficult recovery and one that is faster and safer.

This summer, many Northwest communities received Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation orders. Imagine if that were your neighborhood — would you have a go-bag ready and a safe route out? If an earthquake hit or a sudden windstorm cut off power and water, would you have enough food, medicine, and supplies to sustain your family for at least three days? National Preparedness Month is the perfect time to take these steps and give yourself peace of mind.

Make an Emergency Plan

• Be ready to sustain your family for at least three days; two weeks is even better. 
• Include an evacuation plan with multiple routes, a designated meeting place, and a checklist of “grab-and-go” essentials.
• Build an emergency kit with water, nonperishable food, first aid, flashlights, batteries, medications, pet supplies, copies of insurance policies, and basic tools.
• Resources: FEMA National Preparedness Toolkit, Red Cross, Idaho Office of Emergency Management, Oregon Department of Emergency Management and Washington’s Emergency Management Division. Businesses can use the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety’s Open for Business toolkit.

Create a Home Inventory

• A home inventory speeds up insurance claims and ensures you recover what you are owed.  See our Home Inventory Fact Sheet for a more detailed list of how to create a home inventory.
• Start small: use your smartphone to video one room at a time, noting values or receipts, and save on the cloud or off-site.
• Save receipts, copies of purchase contracts and appraisals so you have proof of an item’s value. Avoid storing sensitive financial information in your emergency kit. Instead, create a secure “digital financial binder” with scanned images or photos of sensitive financial information stored online.

Review Your Insurance Coverage

• Most standard Homeowners and Business Insurance policies cover fire and wildfire, but not floods, earthquakes, landslides or tsunamis. Separate coverage is available for an additional premium.
• Ask your agent if your policy includes replacement cost coverage and whether your limits keep pace with rebuilding costs. 
• Flood Insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program, and Earthquake and “Difference in Conditions” coverage may be available through specialty insurers. Ask your insurance company or agent for details.

For more information, contact the NW Insurance Council at 800-664-4942 or email info@nwinsurance.org.