| As we've recently witnessed, natural disasters like | | | | sump pumps can also drive water away from |
| hurricanes can strike at any time and decimate | | | | your home. Furthermore, planting extra grass can |
| treasured home and possessions, leaving | | | | "anchor" the soil after a flood or fire, which helps |
| homeowners with nothing. But with a little planning | | | | prevent ground erosion around your house. |
| and the proper homeowner's insurance, you can | | | | Finding the Right Insurance |
| protect yourself, your family and your property. | | | | Of course, insuring your home from these perils is |
| Disaster Planning | | | | also an essential part of safeguarding your |
| In times of disaster, safeguarding loved ones is | | | | property. If you already have home insurance, |
| top priority. That's why it's essential to prepare an | | | | you should talk to your agent and go over what's |
| escape plan ahead of time and make sure your | | | | covered and what's not covered under your |
| family knows what to do in the event of an | | | | policy. Many homeowners are surprised to learn |
| emergency. Emergency phone numbers should | | | | that flood and earthquake damages are not |
| also be reviewed with family members and | | | | covered under standard policies. And with the |
| posted somewhere (perhaps on the refrigerator) | | | | large scope of damages these natural disasters |
| for easy access. | | | | can cause, you'll want to make sure you're |
| When it comes to protecting your valuable and | | | | adequately protected. |
| hard-to-replace items, you can also plan ahead and | | | | So how can you get extra coverage? |
| protect them. Items like birth certificates, | | | | The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a |
| insurance policies, home inventories and other | | | | federal program through which you can purchase |
| valuables should be placed in a safe deposit box | | | | flood insurance. Most private insurers also sell |
| during high risk seasons. That way, if your home | | | | additional flood and earthquake coverage. |
| suffers significant damage, your valuable items | | | | If there are certain valuables that aren't covered |
| are out of the house. | | | | under your standard policy, you can get coverage |
| Prevent and Circumvent | | | | for those items by purchasing a rider. A rider is |
| While most natural disasters can't be prevented, | | | | an extension to your home insurance policy which |
| you can circumvent damages from disasters like | | | | covers selected items. |
| wildfire, floods and mudslides by carrying out | | | | When it comes to homeowner's insurance, |
| certain safety measures. Often times, damage | | | | knowing what you need to protect your property |
| can be minimized simply with smart landscaping. | | | | is the best way to save money--resulting in the |
| If you live in a forested area, you can minimize | | | | cheap homeowner's insurance you want and the |
| your risk of wildfire damage by clearing all brush, | | | | insurance coverage you need. |
| shrubs, sticks and other debris from your | | | | Take Action against Disasters |
| property that could fuel a fire toward your home. | | | | We can't control natural disasters, but we can |
| "Fuelbreaks" like cement and gravel walk and | | | | plan, circumvent and insure against them. Develop |
| driveways can also slow a fire's pathway toward | | | | a safety plan, prepare your home to withstand |
| your home. | | | | disasters and talk to your agent about finding the |
| If you live in an area prone to floods or mudslides | | | | coverage you need. You'll rest easier knowing |
| from heavy rains or hurricanes, you can plan | | | | you're protected! |
| certain diversions for water through landscaping; | | | | |