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April 26, 2007 05:17 pm
Key to hurricane assistance is home inventory
With hurricane season just weeks away, homeowners and renters should be making a list, and photos, of their home's inventory if they want help after a disaster.
By Georgia E. Frye
CNHI News Service
MERIDIAN, Miss. — Before hurricane season begins, homeowners and renters should make an inventory of all the items in their homes, according to state and federal officials.
And it needs to happen soon — hurricane season officially starts June 1.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Mississippi Insurance Department remind owners and renters that providing a complete home inventory to their insurance agent should help them get a policy that covers their risk more completely.
In addition, an inventory can help provide proof of personal property loss after a disaster.
David Sharp, director of the Lauderdale County Emergency Management Agency, recommends that homeowners or renters record their belongings with a video camera, especially large appliances and items that are worth a lot of money.
“They should take down serial numbers of appliances and videotape or take pictures of their belongings,” Sharp said. “That will help in the case of a hurricane but would also be beneficial in other situations such as a fire or burglary.”
Sharp said that with the beginning of hurricane season just around the corner on June 1, residents should check their property for leaning trees and remove any potential hazards from their property.
“One of the most important things we want to remind people of is making sure they notify the Emergency Operations Center if they have damage to their home and property,” Sharp said.
He said FEMA officials need an accurate number of homes damaged in a natural disaster. He said that information will expedite getting assistance to the county.
For those who are just setting up a household, starting a home inventory can be relatively simple. But for those who have lived in a house for many years, this task may seem daunting.
FEMA recommends setting aside an afternoon to get the whole family involved because it is much easier to document possessions before suffering a loss from a fire, burglary or natural disaster.
Government and insurance industry officials also recommend taking photos of the outside of a home in addition to all contents, and to store these photos together with the inventory list in a safe place away from the house.
“A complete inventory, including photos, may be one of the most valuable investments for peace of mind anyone can make for themselves and their families,” said Dennis Kizziah, acting director for FEMA’s Mississippi Transitional Recovery Office. “If something happens to damage homes and property, an inventory will eliminate the need to piece that information together in the aftermath.”
Renters should also consider both hazard and flood insurance to protect personal belongings. Standard hazard policies may require additional riders for items such as collectibles, jewelry, firearms and art work.
Disaster assistance from FEMA and other agencies cannot provide the extensive protection individuals can get from insurance. FEMA assistance is limited and designed primarily to get disaster survivors on the road to recovery.
Georgia E. Frye writes for The Meridian (Miss.) Star.
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