Hello World! Welcome Friends! Wouldn’t it be wonderful if life always went as planned! Unfortunately, life has a habit of throwing up unexpected challenges, and this is something many of us have been forced to realize with the recent pandemic that has caused chaos worldwide. Still, as we have been forced to learn recently, it is always good to be prepared.
While we don’t know what your future holds, you can prepare for it, especially when thinking about your life at home. As you will know already, home disasters can occur regularly, especially when living in areas with adverse weather conditions, but with a bit of forward planning, you can minimize the stress and damages.
So, while we hope you never have to suffer an unexpected home disaster, here are some suggestions to help you prepare in the event that something does happen to you.
#1: Create an emergency fund
The best way to prepare for any unexpected disaster is to have an emergency fund in place. This way, if you do have to make repairs because of weather damage to your home, or if you do have to replace any of your contents, you will have money in place to support you. And if you do have an emergency fund at the ready, there will be less need for you to dip into your regular savings, so you wouldn’t have to forsake your vacation, Christmas, or retirement plans because of the unexpected event that had happened at home. So, make sure you put some money away each month, as if you can create an emergency fund, you will have one less thing to worry about if disaster strikes.
#2: Make sure you’re insured
As we discussed in a previous article, homeowners insurance can cover you for all kinds of things. It offers dwelling protection, as you will be able to claim for any damages to your property. It can protect your home contents too, so if something breaks, you can sometimes claim back money to replace your damaged items. And liability insurance can be included too, as if somebody hurts themselves on your property, you have some financial protection for compensation claims. So, if you aren’t insured yet, make sure you arrange coverage as soon as possible. You see, despite the expense of insurance, you could save yourself an absolute fortune should something catastrophic affect your home.
Extra tips: Insurers don’t always pay out, so make sure you read the small print before taking coverage, as you want to make sure you are fully protected. It’s also worth having an insurance claim attorney on standby, as if your insurer is reluctant to pay you, you will have somebody with the legal know-how available to help you.
#3: Prepare an emergency kit
This is something many of us wished we had done before the pandemic hit, as suddenly, our stores began to run out of essential items. So, if you’re relating to this, and you have struggled to cope at home without those items that you rely on, learn from this experience. You see, if you have a ready supply of food, water, medical items, and other essentials, you will be prepared for any disaster, be it similar to what we have already experienced, or something that is weather-related. There is advice here on what to include in an emergency kit, so have a read, and start stocking up now, just in case you are faced with another stay-at-home disaster.
#4: Prepare for a burglary
While your homeowners’ insurance will cover you if you’re burgled, it is still a good idea to take other steps to protect yourself. You might want to follow our suggestions on how to keep your home safe, for example, because if you have security cameras, new locks, and alarm systems in place, the burglar might think twice when trying to gain entry. You should also invest in a safe, because if the burglar does get inside your home, they would find it harder to access your home’s valuables if they were locked up somewhere. It’s a good idea to talk to your neighbors too, as if you trust them, they could keep an eye on your property when you’re away. You might want to set up a home security system that links to your smartphone as well, as you would then have the opportunity to see what is happening in and around your home on a 24/7 basis.
#5: Protect yourself from the weather
You can’t control the weather, but you can protect yourself and your home in readiness. The first thing you need to do is make those general repairs, especially around those areas that are prone to flood or wind damage. You should then take those other steps to protect your home, as we discussed in our article on flood-proofing your home and protecting your home in a hurricane. By fixing weak areas, barricading vulnerable areas of your home, and preparing items you might need in readiness, you will (and sorry for the pun) have the ability to weather the storm!
#6: Have the relevant people on speed dial
It could be a professional builder, plumber, or electrician. It could be your insurance company. It might be the police or fire service. It might even be a friend or a family member that you could call upon for practical or emotional support. Whoever it is, think about the people you might need to call on in the event of a disaster and add them to your phone, just in case you ever need to get in touch with them in a hurry.
#7: Pray!
God can perform miracles, we know, so it might be that He prevents an unexpected home disaster from happening in the first place. Pray each night that this be so. But pray for daily strength too, so even if a home disaster does take place, you might have the inner resources you need to help you cope, despite the chaos that might be going on around you!
Finally
A disaster could strike at any moment, so when it comes to our suggestions, don’t delay. You will have greater peace of mind when you are prepared, and if something does happen unexpectedly, you will be in a better position to deal with it. Still, here’s hoping for a good day! We hope that this is something you experience today.
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Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world! Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!
Toodles,
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