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In the wake of a disaster, many of us are too shaken up to think about recovery. However, it could be important to action quickly – damage left unrepaired could lead to more damage. So just what recovery steps should you take? Below are 5 home disasters that occur across the US and how to recover from them.
Burglary
There are over 1 million burglaries committed in the US each year. On top of stealing valuable possessions, burglars can often cause huge amounts of damage in the process.
While you may be eager to replace the stolen items and make these repairs, it’s important to not touch anything initially. The first thing you should do is to report the crime to the police. Leave everything where it is so that they can take any evidence they may need. Police will be able to advise you on how to secure your home while waiting for repairs.
The second thing you should do is to notify your insurer. It could also be worth taking pictures of the scene so that you have evidence to send to your insurer. You can then make a claim and hopefully get enough compensation to pay for essential repairs and replacements.
If your home isn’t covered by insurance, you will have to pay for repairs and replacements yourself. Be wary that there may be local charities that can help to provide funding.
Many homes that are burgled end up being targeted again. By investing in security measures such as burglar alarms, security cameras, exterior lighting and strong locks you may be able to prevent yourself from being a victim twice.
Flooding
In 2021 alone, 15 millions homes across America were affected by natural disasters. Floods are one of the biggest and most devastating natural disasters, causing huge amounts of damage to property and possessions. They can often be a knock-on effect of hurricanes, but can also be caused simply by excess rainfall. Plumbing disasters can also often lead to floods.
Recovering from a flood is a gradual process. First, you must make sure that your home is safe. Turn off the gas and electricity at the mains if you can reach the switches. You may need to find temporary accommodation for a while until your home is cleared up as there may be bacteria from sewerage and mold everywhere.
You should then photograph the damage and get in touch with your insurer if you have flood cover. If you cannot make an insurance claim, there could be grants or loans that you can look into to pay for recovery.
There are companies that can help carry out a flooding clean up for you. This should be done as soon as possible to prevent further damage and should include first drying out your home and then removing anything that is damaged and unsalvageable. You can then look into making necessary repairs and replacing any important items that were damaged by the flood.
If you live in a high-risk flood zone, it could be important to protect your home against possible future floods. Consider looking into either wet floodproofing or dry floodproofing. The latter involves keeping all water out of your home, while the former allows water into your home but minimizes damage.
Fire
Over 350,000 house fires occur every year in the US. While some of these fires are able to be put out before they cause much damage, others can cause significant damage.
It is recommended that you move out of your home following a fire, as it may not be safe. A fire inspector will be able to assess the damage and determine whether your home is safe to still live in and what repairs are needed. Some homes may not be salvageable – in which case you may have no choice but to permanently move out or rebuild your home from scratch.
You should call your insurer straight away and send them any photo evidence that they may need. If you do not have insurance, consider looking into other types of funding such as loans and grants for fire recovery.
There are specialist fire restoration companies that can help restore your home. Any personal possessions damaged by the fire may need to be thrown out and replaced.
Earthquake
Earthquakes occur mainly across the west of the US. The most severe ones can cause huge amounts of damage that can be very costly to recover from.
Following an earthquake, you should get your home inspected to make sure that it is safe. You should then invest in any repairs that may need to be made.
If you are insured, make sure to notify your insurer beforehand and make a claim before committing to any repairs. If you are not covered by insurance, there is other financial support out there for earthquake victims.
It is important that you invest in some earthquake-proofing home improvements to protect your property against future possible earthquakes. Securing furniture, cabinets, appliances and doors can often help to prevent these items getting damaged.
Tornado
Tornadoes are most commonly found across the Great Plains. They cause huge amounts of damage to homes each year.
If your home is directly in the path of a tornado, there is a high chance that it could be completely wiped out. However, not all tornadoes cause such extensive damage and repairs may be necessary. You should get your home inspected to work out the extent of the damage and whether your home is salvageable.
Tornado damage is a form of storm damage and may be covered by your insurer. Notify your insurer as soon as possible, take pictures of your home and make a claim.
If you do not have insurance, there may be other funding that you can look into. A number of charities provide relief for those that have experienced storm damage. Look into these types of charities.
It could be important to protect your home against future tornadoes. Storm shutters, brace garage doors and reinforced roof are some of the improvements you can make.
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