Windhauser lives in Jarrell, which was devastated by a tornado in 1997. She was lucky. The tornado missed her house. Tornado victims in Oklahoma must cope not only with the emotional devastation of losing their homes, but also the financial consequences. Although people can t excape being vulnerable to natural disasters, they can take steps to cushion themselves against the financial impact of a catastrophic event before it strikes.
Preparation is key.
That includes having adequate insurance coverage and keeping crutial financial records in a safe place. The first thing that people should do is review their homeownerss or renters insurance and make sure they have enough to cover a loss. They should check the limits of their policy, including coverage for the contents of their homes and coverage to buildings or structures on their property that aren t attached to their homes. One way policy holders can determine whether they have enough insurance is to make detailed lists of everything they own and include such information as how much they paid for items, the purchase dates and serial numbers, insurance industry officials said. To help speed the settling of a claim, people should videotape their belongings.