How to Prepare Your Home for a Natural Disaster

Natural disasters can strike at any moment. As a homeowner, preparing for such an event means having a plan that keeps you and your family safe — and protects your house.

Here in the Southeast, severe storms, hurricanes, and floods are particular threats. Disasters are never fun, but when you're prepared, you'll know that you've done all you can to protect your family — and your home.

Have insurance and know how to access it

Insurance is a homeowner's best financial defense against disasters that could damage or destroy your home. Homeowners insurance insures your home against damage due to fire, lightning, tornadoes, hurricanes, or other covered disasters. If a natural disaster occurs, your insurance pays for repairs or to have the house rebuilt. Note that floods are often not included in standard insurance policies, so you'll need to buy separate flood insurance.

About flood insurance

Flood insurance covers against damage due to flooding. Every state offers flood insurance to homeowners through a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) called the National Flood Insurance Program, or NFIP.1 Flood insurance is typically purchased through your insurance company,2 though the federal government administers it.

If you live in a moderate-risk or a low-risk area, you might be able to get flood insurance at a reduced cost. If you're in a high-risk area, you'll probably pay more.3 Check to see whether you're in a flood zone by using the FEMA flood map.4

Have enough insurance

It's a good idea to review your homeowners insurance policy periodically to know what it covers and to determine whether you're adequately insured. There are two ways to insure your home: replacement cost coverage and guaranteed replacement cost coverage.5 With replacement cost coverage, if your home is damaged or destroyed, your insurance company pays up to your coverage limit. If you underestimated what it would cost to replace the home, you would pay the difference. With guaranteed cost coverage, you're guaranteed a full rebuild of your home at its current value.

You can typically review your homeowners insurance policy online. If you're not sure how, call your insurance agent or your insurance company directly.

Make an emergency kit

An emergency kit can come in handy if your home were to lose power for multiple days of if you need to evacuate. You can assemble a kit by placing loose items in plastic bags and then putting the bags inside a duffel bag or plastic bin. If the kit becomes too big to manage, make two kits that are easy to carry.

Ready.gov6 recommends including these items in your emergency kit:

• Several days' worth of water (one gallon per person per day)

• Three-day supply of non-perishable food

• Battery-powered radio

• Flashlight

• First aid kit

• Batteries

• Whistle to call for help

• Face mask

• Plastic sheeting and duct tape to seal a room

• Hand wipes

• Garbage bags

• Pliers or wrench to turn off utilities

• Can opener

• Local map

• Cell phone charger

• Any personal items you need such as medicine

Make sure to periodically replace items that can expire.