Preparing for Disaster with a click of a mouse

Thursday, March 12, 2009

(NewsUSA) - American homes aren't as secure as we think. Among natural disasters -; floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, mudslides, earthquakes, wildfires and kitchen fires and broken pipes, most homeowners will see their properties damaged.

But homeowners can take steps to help protect their possessions from disaster, natural or otherwise.

When moving into a new area, buyers should learn what kind of disasters afflict the region. For example, if hurricanes are a concern, buyers should consider homes with hurricane strapping- flat metal strips that attach rafters and trusses to walls. According to the American Red Cross, people should not buy homes in high-risk flood zones, in areas threatened by coastal erosion or on fault lines.

Once homeowners know what to expect, they can install fire alarms, secure bookcases and other heavy objects that could fall in an earthquake, and they can clear surrounding brush, which can be a fire hazard. But homeowners also need to secure their financial information.

Homeowners need to inventory their possessions, either on paper or with photographs. Even inexpensive items, like dish towels, need to be recorded, because small costs can add up should everything in the home require replacement.

Homeowners need to record where they keep all of their financial and family documents, from birth certificates to tax returns, then copy each document and store it in a safe place. But a large disaster might destroy nearby banks, too.

Online systems can both simplify preparations and provide greater document security