We've talked a lot about protecting your home from damage due to natural disasters such as flooding, storms, or fires, but what's more important than the structure itself is the things it houses. Of course, first this includes your actual family members, but after getting them safely together and evacuated in the event of a disaster, you'll want to save any important papers or records you may have, as you may need them later for insurance or appraisal purposes.
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First things first, record everything. I grew up in Florida, where hurricanes and tornadoes were a common occurrence. One of my earliest childhood memories is my mother, walking around with a camcorder, recording the prior condition of all of our belongings before hurricane Andrew struck. This is the best way to insurance replacement if any of your possessions are destroyed.
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Maintain organized files. It sounds simple, but we all know it's not. Other things become important and that credit card statement or medical record sits on your dresser or kitchen counter for months before it's put away. The minute it comes in the mail, file it. This way, when you're in a crunch for time, you know where everything is and you only have to grab one file.
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Go digital. How many photos do you think you have in your home? If you're anything like me that number is countless. These are one of the first things people want to save, however if you can get your photos (even the hard copies) created into digital files, all you'll have to grab is a lap top, flash drive, or CD. The same goes for tax documents, credit card statements or other records. Many companies, banks, and government bureaus allow you to set up accounts that forward statements to your email. Do this as soon as possible, this way, if something happens you don't have to worry about finding your credit card statements before you have to evacuate because they're already in your email account.
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Know what's important. Most important certificates, statements and records are not irreplaceable. Most federal documents, including Social Security cards and birth certificates can be reproduced without much hassle. Remember that in the event of an emergency, getting your family out of the house safely is the most important thing. Many of these documents can be replaced or restored.
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Call the experts. If you're home and documents are damaged as a result of a natural disaster, report the claim to your insurance and contact a professional restoration company immediately. The sooner you get a contracting and restoration company on the job, the sooner they can repair everything. Many restoration companies, including Paul Davis
Restoration of Northeast NJ have innovative methods that help them to save or restore your documents and records after damage caused by natural disaster.
