5 TAKE AWAYS

​

​

Remember:

When disaster strikes, 

The time to prepare has passed. 

~ Steven Cyros

 

1. Get a fireproof, waterproof safe  

This type of safe is designed to protect irreplaceable documents & valuables from fire and water damage due to fire or flood. It comes with a key to keep the lid secure under extreme circumstances.  

 

We’ve always had and used a fire box for documents like birth certificates and social security cards, we just never thought we’d need it. Taking the time now to set up your own fire box will take so much weight off your shoulders if a fire happens to you later.  

​

 

2. Install fire extinguishers & smoke alarms 

Have the right type of fire extinguisher for specific areas of your house. 

• Class A: trash, wood, paper

• Class B: cooking grease, liquids and gasses (flared nozzle for grease fires)

• Class C: electrical equipment  

Fire extinguishers should be easy to access.  

Family members should know how to use them properly. 

 

Even though my husband and I were out of town, our children knew where the fire extinguisher was and how to use it. The fire extinguisher didn’t stop our fire, but it did slow it down until everyone got out of the house.  

    

Choose the right smoke alarm for the right location in your house. Smoke alarms should be installed in each bedroom & on each floor, including the attic, basement & garage. The early warning smoke detectors allow loved ones to get to a safe place in the event of a house fire. 

 

​3. Practice fire drills at home

Schools have fire drills throughout the year, yet there are less than 4,000 school fires reported each year. However, with more than 300,000 house fires in the U.S. every year, fire drills should be done at home, as well. Doing so will help your children know how to stay safe during a house fire. 

 

While we hadn’t done fire drills since our children were young, as adults, their response was instinctive because of the time we spent practicing for the ‘what if’ when they were younger.

 

 

4. Know your agent, know your policy…and the coverage you have.

It’s important to do a regular audit on your policy, so you know what  coverage you have before an emergency. Here are some questions to consider:

~ How much coverage do you have for the structure of your home?

~ Does your policy cover ‘full replacement’ or ‘functional replacement’   for the reconstruction of your home? 

~ How much coverage do you have for the contents of your home?

~ Does your policy cover damages to neighboring property, if the fire spreads beyond your home?

 

We had a very comprehensive policy. However, our policy was never really put to the test until we had a house fire. We never knew to ask these key questions. Moving forward, we will make the necessary adjustments to our policy, so we have all of our bases covered. 

​

​

5. You don’t have to go with the “preferred” reconstruction company or content adjuster from your insurance company.

 

Check your options to see what works best for you. It’s important to note, independent companies don’t work for your insurance company. They work for you. They go toe-to-toe with your insurance company to get you everything you are owed. Whereas, “prefered” vendors do work for the insurance company and that’s where their loyalty lies. With that said, no option is without flaw.     

 

Immediately following our fire, private restoration companies and content adjusters contacted us to pitch their business. I was still in shock from the fire, but decisions needed to be made regarding our house. My husband fielded many of these discussions. After much deliberation, we finally decided to go with private companies rather than the “preferred” vendors from our insurance company. Even after the shock wears off, the journey to rebuild your life post-fire is long and difficult. Hiring independent companies for both the structure and the content took a great weight off of our shoulders, allowing us to focus on helping our family heal from this overdeal.