E-Mail
Print
tool name
closeDisaster happens. To minimize your losses and speed up recovery, here are some tips:
1. Protect your property.
• Install smoke detectors.
• Know where to turn off water, gas and electricity.
• Clear surrounding brush to protect against wildfires, and secure objects that could tumble in an earthquake.
2. Compile an inventory.
• Make a list of your possessions and include model and serial number of electronics and appliances. Update the list annually, in case you need estimated values for insurance or tax purposes. (For a sample household inventory list, go to www.insurance.ca.gov).
• Take photos or videotape your possessions. Don't forget to photograph your vehicles, the exterior of your home or business, and the contents of your garage, closets and attic.
• Save receipts of valuable items and get professional appraisals of expensive jewelry, collectibles and artwork. List those items individually on your insurance policy.
• Store inventory lists separate from your home or office, such as in a safe deposit box. Keep a copy in an emergency kit (see below).
3. Get adequate insurance.
• If necessary in your area, consider additional coverage for fire, earthquake or losses not covered by standard insurance.
• If you own a home, buy at least full replacement or replacement cost coverage.
• If you rent, buy renter's insurance, which pays for damaged, destroyed or stolen personal property. You may need special insurance if you live in an area prone to floods or earthquakes.
4. Be money-ready.
• Keep a small amount of cash at home in case of a sudden evacuation, or if a disaster shuts down local ATMs and banks. Set aside an emergency fund in a savings account. Keep credit cards paid off so you can use them to get through a disaster.
5. Assemble an emergency kit.
• Keep a plastic tub, a duffel bag, a lidded box – something you can quickly grab in case of evacuation. Ideally, you'll need two boxes: one for personal items and a smaller one for financial documents.
• For financial: Some cash and a few rolls of quarters; negatives or CDs of personal photographs; list of emergency contacts; copies of prescriptions and medical records; copies of insurance policies, bank accounts, birth certificates, driver's license, passports and other family financial records; backup disks for home/office computers; your safe deposit box key.
• For personal: Have at least three days' worth of bottled water and packaged/dried foods per family member; first-aid kit; medical and personal hygiene items; flashlight and/or radio with batteries; cell phone and charger; blankets; change of clothes.
(For more details, go to: www.ready.gov.)
6. Make an evacuation plan. • Imagine you have to leave in a hurry and can take only one suitcase or pack a single carload. What would you take, where would you go, where would you rejoin your family, how would you stay in touch if separated? Have a family discussion to agree on a local meeting place and to designate a friend or family member – outside the area – who can act as the family's contact in an emergency.
Source: California Society of CPAs
What you should know about comments on SanLuisObispo.com
SanLuisObispo.com is happy to provide a forum for reader interaction, discussion, feedback and reaction to our stories. However, we reserve the right to delete inappropriate comments or ban users who can't play nice. See our full terms of service here.
Here are some rules of the road:
- Keep your comments civil. Don't insult one another or the subjects of our articles. If you think a comment violates our guidelines click the "report abuse" button. Responding to the comment will only encourage bad behavior.
- Don't use profanities, vulgarities or hate speech. This is a general interest news site. Sometimes, there are children present. Don't say anything in a way you wouldn't want your own child to hear.
- Do not attack other users; focus your comments on issues, not individuals.
- Stay on topic. Only post comments relevant to the article at hand. If you want to discuss an issue with a specific user, click on his profile name and leave him a public message.
- Do not copy and paste outside material into the comment box.
- Don't repeat the same comment over and over. We heard you the first time.
- Do not use the commenting system for advertising. That's spam and it isn't allowed.
- Don't use all capital letters. That's akin to yelling and not appreciated by the audience.
You should also know that The Tribune does not screen comments before they are posted. You are more likely to see inappropriate comments before our staff does, so we ask that you click the "report abuse" button to submit those comments for moderator review. You also may notify us via email at webmaster@sanluisobispo.com. Note the headline on which the comment is made and tell us the profile name of the user who made the comment. Remember, comment moderation is subjective. You may find some material objectionable that we won't and vice versa.
If you submit a comment, the username of your account will appear along with it. Users cannot remove their own comments once they have submitted them, but you may ask our staff to retract one of your comments by sending an email to webmaster@sanluisobispo.com. Again, make sure you note the headline on which the comment is made and tell us your profile name.
About comments
Reader comments on SanLuisObispo.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Tribune. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.