Whether your property has just weathered a category five hurricane or a raging forest fire, the first 48 hours after a disaster are essential to recovering that property and ensuring business continuity. In this guide, you will be given information on what steps to take and how to deal with the immediate aftermath of different disasters.
Here are the first five steps that you can take to preserve your property and keep yourself safe after a disaster has occurred:
You need to let your insurance company know about the incident immediately so that a claim can be filed. Once you can assess your property, take pictures of damages for your insurance claim. Compile a list of damaged items in the home to help speed up the claims process. Keep any receipts for purchases, including hotel stays, rental cars, repairs, and meals, so your insurance company can properly reimburse you.
After contacting your insurance company, it is essential to call a restoration company so that experienced restoration technicians can begin work to recover the property as soon as possible. Time is of the essence when a property is exposed to the elements. Waiting could mean even more corrosion to the bones of the property and additional expenses for you.
As tempting as it may be to rush to your property immediately after a disaster has occurred, you need to confirm that it is safe to do so. Contact a local building inspector to investigate the property to make sure the building is stable and not shifting. If your building has gotten wet inside, turn the power off and get an electrical inspector to check if it is safe to turn the power back on. If your property was involved in a fire, the soot residue in the building could be hazardous to your health. So, it's best to wait until a building inspector can look at the property before you enter.
If a disaster has driven you out of your residence, you will need to find a place to stay while restoration is in progress. If you cannot stay with family or friends, contact your insurance company, as they should be able to accommodate you with a hotel or temporary apartment. You can also check with your local American Red Cross office about temporary lodging and other disaster relief services.
Scammers know that people will be more susceptible to scams during a frantic and desperate situation such as a natural disaster. Be aware that federal officials do not ask for money; if they do, it is a scam. You may get calls or text messages from scammers trying to impersonate government officials, disaster relief personnel, or your insurance company. If this happens, you should hang up and go to that organization's official website and call back from the listed number to ensure it is not a scam. Anyone who claims you must pay a fee to receive disaster assistance from FEMA or the Small Business Administration is a scammer because both organizations offer help for free. Scammers may also disguise themselves as a charity organization taking donations to help those affected by a natural disaster. Only donate to reputable and well-known charities.
These five steps are great guidelines for any natural disaster. They are the best steps you can take in the first 48 hours after your property has sustained damage. Depending on the kind of incident that has occurred, there may be additional steps that would be beneficial to take:
The most important thing you can do to save your property after a disaster is to contact a trusted restoration company with proper certifications. National Disaster Solutions (NDS) offers speedy response and recovery so you don't have to worry about your business's continuity. The NDS Prime™ Program provides disaster planning and preparation pre-loss and disaster cleanup and recovery post-loss, helping you from beginning to end. While disasters can't be avoided entirely, we believe in helping our clients prepare for the worst so that damages to your property can be minimized.
Don't wait until disaster strikes to protect your business. Contact your AssuredPartners representative to learn about NDS Prime™ and how a comprehensive disaster planning and response approach can offer valuable peace of mind.
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