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Here comes Florence

Tropical Storm Florence was upgraded to a hurricane this morning, September 9, as it bears down on the the southeastern coast of Florida.  At this point, nobody can say exactly where it will hit or what kind of damage it will do.  But it is a reminder that hurricane season is now upon us as the fire season, though not over, is winding down.  Do you know what you should do to be prepared?  Do you have your important documents safely guarded?  What about other valuables?  Do you have the supplies you will need if you have to evacuate your home?  The time to be prepared is NOW.  Get lots of tips for preparing from Rising from the Ashes which will help you, not only in preparing, but also if you are unfortunate enough to suffer property damage or loss as a result of coming storms.

What if?

What if you were forced to evacuate  due to an oncoming storm or fire and you only had 15 minutes to gather your things.  What would you take?  Would you frantically run around your house gathering whatever you could grab?  Would you have your most precious items always by the front door, just in case?  In the heat of the moment, it is easy to panic and not be able to think clearly.  You are worried about your safety and that of your family, first of all.  Would you even know where your car keys are?  There are strategies to avoid such a panic in the event of an emergency.

How about a list of what is important–made during quiet moments when there is no emergency?  Check out Rising from the Ashes for many suggestions of what you need to have ready.  You’ll be glad you did.

 

There has been a lull in the news….

We haven’t heard of too many new fires in the last few days.  Does that mean the fire danger has passed?  Not hardly.  In our area, we had rain for a few days and that was great.  However, the rains are slowing down now and we have wind.  Wind dries all the plants out and guest what, the fire danger goes up again.  And while fires are still a possibility, the peak of hurricane season is from August through October–the time we are now in.  People need to be prepared in those areas where hurricanes are likely to strike.  Be ready, be prepared.  Take a look at Rising from the Ashes for pre-disaster preparation.  We never know when nature will assert herself in the form of fires, hurricanes, tornadoes or floods.

Farewell to a hero–Battalion Chief Matt Burchett

Let us not forget those first responders who work tirelessly to protect us and our property.  Some make the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives in the line of duty.   Battalion Chief Matt Burchett from Utah died while fighting the Mendocino Complex Fire which so far is the largest wildfire in California history.  He was returned home to full military honors.  May he rest in peace.

Loss of use. What’s that?

Do you know what is in your homeowner’s policy?  Are you covered for loss of use?  Loss of use is an important provision to include in your policy because your living expenses while you are out of the house will be covered up to a certain amount, depending on your limits.  After a widespread natural disaster claims dozens or maybe even hundreds of homes, an immediate need for alternative housing is created.  Your loss-of-use coverage will take care of the rent for up to a year (perhaps longer if you are actively rebuilding).  Most lost-of-use riders will cover housing which is comparable to what you lost.  Considering how minimal the cost of the rider is for this benefit, it is well worth having in your policy.  You may never need it, but if you do, it is worth more than you can imagine!

Are your animals protected?

Did you know that if you have livestock, unless you have a separate policy or a rider, they aren’t covered if lost in a natural disaster?  If you are properly insured, your real property (house and land) is covered as well as your personal property.  But animals fall under a different coverage.  Be sure to check that out with your insurance agent.  Find out more here.

America is on fire

This has been a relatively calm year so far as far hurricanes and tornadoes are concerned, but, oh my, the fires are raging from Alaska to Florida and many states in between.   This means that many people are going to need help with the reconstructing of their lives if they lose their homes and possessions.  Some people will have wonderful insurance adjusters who will make their recovery seamless, but many will not be so fortunate and they will have to navigate the murky waters alone.  If you know anybody in that situation, please send them a copy of Rising from the Ashes.  It will be a gift they can use now and in the future.  There are many strategies that people don’t know about in making a successful claim, and they will find them in this book.

Initial activity after a disaster–Emergency Response Centers

Right after a natural disaster claims land and property, help comes from all around—the Red Cross, Catholic Charities, numerous churches, the Salvation Army, Samaritan’s Purse and other charitable groups.  Individuals and people from various businesses and other organizations all appear on the scene to help.  Usually an emergency response center is set up where the utility companies, churches, charitable groups and individuals with help to offer are represented.  In our case, we were given care packages, boxes of food, cleaning supplies, cosmetics and coupons to Goodwill for free clothing.  The immediate needs of the fire victims were met. People could sign up for additional help with sifting through the ashes, removing trees and clearing property.  Numerous church groups sent people to help.  Quilters made quilts for all the now-homeless residents and a couple of organizations set up a Christmas giveaway of ornaments, trees, lights and other items associated with the holidays.  So much energy and love poured forth from every corner!  We were overwhelmed by the generosity and selflessness of total strangers ready to help us.  Members of our family came from various states to help us with the cleanup and to help us plant new trees.

If there is an emergency response center in your area, by all means go there immediately and see what help is available.  The help is only for a limited time, so don’t delay.

Well, that was a typo

Truly, the book came out in the Year of Our Lord 2018, not 2008.  Since I cut and pasted all across the social media I use (which luckily isn’t too much), I transferred the typo to all sites and have corrected them all.  There is certainly no perfection from these quarters!