MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014
September is National Preparedness Month, when the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourages people to take action to prepare for disaster. It's an ideal time to share information with our customers about preparation and safety. Here are a few great ideas:
For the tech savvy
The Insurance Information Institute offers free apps for mobile phones that help people prepare for disasters. Share the link on social media, on your website or blog.
Customers who use an iPhone, iPad, or iTouch can develop a plan for emergency situations with the Know Your Plan app, which features Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IIBHS) disaster preparedness guidelines for hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and severe winter weather.
For families
Help customers get started on a plan for their family by directing them to ready.gov and FEMA’s downloadable Family Communication Plan template. Your customers can fill in the pages online and then print the plan and keep a copy in an accessible location.
FEMA's Ready Kids program uses cartoon characters and kid-friendly content to get the whole family involved in preparation.
For everyone
The IBHS ZIP code tool makes it easy for you to determine the severe weather risks they face in their community and get instant access to disaster planning resources.
We encourage our customers to put together a basic supply kit for earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural disasters. FEMA has a list of recommended items on its website, plus tips on maintaining the kit, where to store it and more.
Remember, having a full inventory of personal belongings will help the claims process go smoother if possessions are damaged in a disaster. Follow this link (insert link here) to downloand the Insurance Information Institute's free home inventory software.