03/24/2023
Recover • Earthquakes | Floods | Hurricanes | Lightning | Tornadoes | Tsunamis | Wildfires
If your home is damaged or destroyed in a storm or natural disaster, you can take steps to protect your family’s safety, comfort, and financial stability during recovery.
Seek guidance from reliable sources, including emergency management officials, local government leaders, insurance company representatives, and nonprofit organizations that specialize in disaster response and recovery. Determine if your disaster-affected community has formed a long-term recovery task force and follow task force news to learn about relevant resources, services, and deadlines.
You may never forget your disaster experience, but you can recover and bounce back with the physical, emotional, and financial support available after the worst happens.
Contact your insurance provider as soon as possible to begin the claims process. Be aware that certain disasters, such as floods and earthquakes, may not be covered by standard homeowners policies.
Take reasonable steps to protect your property from further damage, like placing blue tarps over roof damage or broken windows. Save your receipts for any materials you use, and submit them to your insurance company for reimbursement.
Document your loss, and preserve damaged items until your adjuster has visited your home or your company advises that you may dispose of the items. Take photos and use videos to prepare a home inventory to document your claim. Assemble copies of receipts from damaged items.
You may have coverage for lodging and other living expenses while you are displaced from your damaged home, so be sure to include those receipts in your claim documentation.
For more information about insurance considerations during a disaster, check out our guide to homeowners insurance and how to file a claim.
Throughout recovery, stay up-to-date and monitor local radio, television, and other information sources about where to get emergency housing, food, first aid, clothing, and financial assistance. Check out options for how to stay informed.
Post-disaster economic assistance programs may be available for individuals under certain circumstances. Direct assistance of food, shelter, supplies, and cleanup may come from any number of organizations, including the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and others. The federal government may help individuals and families with temporary housing, counseling, loans and grants, and other assistance. There are also programs to help small businesses and farmers.
FEMA provides housing assistance for qualifying disaster victims. Homeowners within a designated federal disaster area can call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) to register.
Applicants should be prepared to describe losses and provide their Social Security Number, financial information, and the location of the damaged property.
Disasters can have an emotional toll, and adults may need crisis counseling or stress management assistance. Children, older adults, people with disabilities, and people who speak English as a second language may be especially at risk for emotional distress post-disaster.
Seek crisis counseling if you or a family member is experiencing disaster-related stress. Local faith-based organizations, voluntary agencies, or professional counselors can provide counsel and advice. FEMA, state, and local government agencies may also provide crisis counseling assistance.
Make sure you understand the personal effects of a disaster, recognize signs of disaster-related stress, and are familiar with how to manage that stress.
If in doubt, do not give out your personal information. Report to local authorities anyone claiming to be a government worker. Safeguard against disaster-related fraud by taking these precautions:
Upgrade your home for harsh weather with retrofits specific to the age and location of your house.
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See how to make a plan for what to do before, during and after.