After a Fire
In the event you suffer a fire at your home or business, life as you
know it will change. If you do some planning, you can shift the odds in
your favor for keeping everyone safe and seeing a speedy return to
normal life. The most important item is always making sure everyone
survives the incident. To that end, making certain you have functioning
smoke detectors, an escape plan, and follow other recommended safety
suggestions offered here is paramount. But recovery from a significant
fire in your home or business, even without any injuries or deaths, will
require patience and a lot of hard work.
First Things First:
A fire in your home will be an emotionally trying event. It will usually be hardest on children, the elderly, or those with disabilities. It is important to remain calm, and first make certain everyone is ok physically. Meeting the physical needs of your family (such as food, water medications and rest) must be 1st priorities. To help with the emotional trauma, it's important to find shelter in a quiet, safe place. Isolation from the turmoil of the fire scene (and related news) can be beneficial. Focus on any positive aspects of the situation, maintaining family ties and friendships. In the days after a fire, returning to some form of a routine as quickly as possible will also be helpful. Arrange shelter for pets, and visit them frequently during the recovery, for everyone's benefit.
Do not re-enter you home unless the Fire Department has told you it is safe to do so! Often, they will be happy to assist you in recovering important items if it is no longer safe to stay at your home. Contact your insurance agency! Many insurance companies have crews available to assist you after a fire. As soon as possible, it is a good idea to start taking pictures or videos to document the damage. You can also start making a list of damaged or destroyed items. Be sure to make copies for yourself of any documentation shared with insurance companies or other agencies.
Fires and other natural disasters can destroy personal items and information in moments. In today's computer assisted world we It's becoming increasingly easy to back up important information and KEEP A COPY SOMEWHERE SAFE AWAY FROM HOME (in a safe deposit box, for example). Here is a list of common, important documents, including where to obtain replacements:
Inspections and restoration of your home following a fire is best left to professionals. Since your insurance company will be paying your claim, it's important to consult with them regarding authorized service providers. Many companies specializing in fire restoration and re-building can be found in the local Yellow Pages. Be sure to check their reputations through agencies such as the Better Business Bureau or Attorney General's Office.
A fire in your home will be an emotionally trying event. It will usually be hardest on children, the elderly, or those with disabilities. It is important to remain calm, and first make certain everyone is ok physically. Meeting the physical needs of your family (such as food, water medications and rest) must be 1st priorities. To help with the emotional trauma, it's important to find shelter in a quiet, safe place. Isolation from the turmoil of the fire scene (and related news) can be beneficial. Focus on any positive aspects of the situation, maintaining family ties and friendships. In the days after a fire, returning to some form of a routine as quickly as possible will also be helpful. Arrange shelter for pets, and visit them frequently during the recovery, for everyone's benefit.
Do not re-enter you home unless the Fire Department has told you it is safe to do so! Often, they will be happy to assist you in recovering important items if it is no longer safe to stay at your home. Contact your insurance agency! Many insurance companies have crews available to assist you after a fire. As soon as possible, it is a good idea to start taking pictures or videos to document the damage. You can also start making a list of damaged or destroyed items. Be sure to make copies for yourself of any documentation shared with insurance companies or other agencies.
Important Documents:
Fires and other natural disasters can destroy personal items and information in moments. In today's computer assisted world we It's becoming increasingly easy to back up important information and KEEP A COPY SOMEWHERE SAFE AWAY FROM HOME (in a safe deposit box, for example). Here is a list of common, important documents, including where to obtain replacements:
- Driver's license, Auto registration\ Department of motor vehicles
- Bank accounts/books (checking, savings, etc.)\ Your bank, as soon as possible
- Insurance policies\ Your insurance agent
- Military discharge papers\ Department of Veterans Affairs
- Passports\ Passport service
- Birth, death and marriage certificates\ Bureau of Records in the appropriate state
- Divorce papers\ Circuit court where decree was issued
- Social Security or Medicare cards\ Local Social Security office
- Credit cards\ The issuing companies, as soon as possible
- Titles to deeds\ Records department of the locality in which the property is located
- Stocks and bonds\ Issuing company or your broker
- Wills\ Your lawyer
- Medical records\ Your doctor
- Warranties\ Issuing company
- Income tax records\ The IRS Center where filed or your accountant
- Citizenship papers\ U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service
- Prepaid burial contract\ Issuing company
- Animal registration papers\ Humane Society
- Mortgage papers\ Lending institution
Restoration:
Inspections and restoration of your home following a fire is best left to professionals. Since your insurance company will be paying your claim, it's important to consult with them regarding authorized service providers. Many companies specializing in fire restoration and re-building can be found in the local Yellow Pages. Be sure to check their reputations through agencies such as the Better Business Bureau or Attorney General's Office.