Preparation Resources for Individuals

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Please contact your insurance company for more information.

Build an Emergency Kit

Everyone should have an emergency kit at the ready. Your kit should be kept stocked and every family member should know where it is located. Don’t forget your pets when you are gathering supplies – make sure you have food, water, and medications for them too. Visit the American Red Cross, FEMA, or ReadyNC website for a list of items to include in your kit.

Watch a bilingual video from NC State Extension on building a disaster kit.

Make sure to have cash on hand and copies of important documents such as titles, health care, social security, vehicle information, utility bills, birth certificate, and mortgage information, in case documents are damaged in the storm. Consider purchasing a small fireproof/waterproof file box to keep everything together and protected.

Emergency Contacts & Plan

Write down a list of emergency contacts and keep a physical copy with you. It is important to include an emergency contact that lives out of your area and can be reached by emergency officials. Make sure to share the contact information with your family members.

Create and discuss an emergency plan for your family. Make sure your vehicles are fueled up and ready to drive if you have to evacuate. Establish calling trees, locate storm shelters, and make necessary arrangements for your pets.

Watch a bilingual video from NC State Extension on developing a family plan in case of emergencies.

It is also important to have access to severe water updates and information from emergency officials. Know where your local emergency shelters are located and what the evacuation routes are for your location. Download the FEMA app or listen to a weather radio to stay updated during a storm.

Prepare Your Home

The best time to prepare for a disaster is when the skies are blue. Inventories, disaster kits, home evacuation plans, app downloads – all of this is easier to do before the storm is bearing down. Make sure to secure or remove loose items outside and weatherize your home.

Inventory

Take an inventory of your home to document the items and their condition. Download mobile apps or visit UPHelp for an inventory list. Taking pictures or videos of the condition of your home and personal belongings is also beneficial when filing insurance claims for storm damage. When you take pictures, make sure to get serial numbers if you can. If you have warranty paperwork for certain items, it may be helpful to keep that with the inventory.

Insurance

Talk with your insurance company in advance to see what your plan covers and how to properly file storm damage claims. Visit our Resources page for information on registering for assistance with FEMA.