They say with age comes wisdom—and when it comes to weathering disasters like fire, flood or hurricane, older individuals and their caregivers would be wise to prepare, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).
Older individuals are particularly vulnerable to disaster, as they may have special needs, and seniors may also have trouble keeping up with the routine maintenance necessary for protecting their home. To be prepared, the I.I.I. suggests the following tips:
1. Have a disaster kit on hand with the supplies you need if you have to evacuate or manage on your own for a period after a disaster. For a full list of disaster supply items, visit Ready.gov.
2. Keep an up-to-date file of medical history including doctors, prescriptions and dosages. Include a copy in your disaster kit and leave a copy with a relative and with a close friend who lives nearby. Your medical history should include emergency phone numbers of someone who can help out and make decisions if you are incapacitated.
3. Plan for an evacuation by first learning if you are in an evacuation zone. Your local county government or municipality can provide this information. Keep a small roller bag handy with at least one change of cloths and a list of any medications.
4. Keep your homeowners insurance up-to-date, and continue to insure your home even if it is paid off. It is wise to review your home’s value with your insurance agent once a year. To ease the claims filing process, keep an up-to-date home inventory. An inventory can be easy. Take photographs of anything valuable and attach a copy of the receipt to the back.
5. Consider flood and earthquake coverage as neither are provided under standard homeowners and renters policies. Flood insurance is available from FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), visit floodsmart.gov for additional information.
Source: I.I.I.
Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2015. All rights reserved.
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