Before you take any actions, however, you should be sure you have involved your family or friends whenever possible in decision making and planning. The important thing is to begin planning now, before the unexpected becomes a harsh reality. Protect your property One of the first things to do is find out what disasters could strike where you live-fire, flood, earthquake, hurricane, or tornado, for example. The following steps can help you avoid or reduce substantially the potential physical destruction to your property if you were to be hit with a disaster. These steps can reduce your insurance costs, too.
Frame houses tend to withstand some disasters, while brick homes hold up better in others.
If you're not sure where to start, you could contact your local fire department if you live in wildfire country. Fire departments will often make house calls to evaluate your property and make suggestions on how to improve safety. In earthquake-prone areas, the local utility can be called upon to come to your location and show you how and where to shut off gas lines or how to elevate utilities to get them above a possible flood. Conduct a household inventory Inventory your household possessions by making a list of everything you own. Keep the originals in a safe place and store copies elsewhere.