There’s no way to stop Mother Nature from doing pretty much as she will, and that includes the damage that can be inflicted on your home or business through wind or thunderstorms. Of course that doesn’t mean there aren’t steps you can take to safeguard your property when the weather turns malevolent.

Document all of your valuables such as furniture, electronics, either through a written list or better yet, photographic documentation. This documentation should be kept in a safe place away from your home in case of disaster. In the unlikely event that your home were to be completely destroyed, you want to have tangible proof of your loss to present to your insurance agent.

Likewise, you should also keep your insurance policy numbers and your provider’s phone number in a secure location as well. In the event of a disaster, contact your insurance provider immediately.

While a standard homeowner's insurance policy covers damage from high winds and tornadoes, it does not cover damage from flooding. A separate policy must be purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program, and can only be purchased if your community participates in the national program. However, a standard mobile home policy can cover damage caused by floods. Check your policy.

If damage does occur, take steps to make sure that no further damage occurs, such as covering the damaged area with a tarp. Most policies will not cover subsequent damage.

Make sure you understand the difference between actual cash value and replacement cost coverage for your contents, and obtain the coverage that best suits your needs. With actual cash value, you will receive the current value of an item when you file a claim. In other words, you'll get only "used" prices for your furniture, TV, etc. With replacement cost coverage, your claim amount will be enough to purchase new items.

You should also secure the contact information for a local, IICRC certified water restoration company. The ideal candidate will be available 24/7/365, with a staff of trained professionals, state of the art water restoration equipment, and offer a full range of service including water extraction and drying, carpet cleaning and mold removal, and structural repair and restoration.

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