The DomiDocs Guide to Wildfire Preparedness

Wildfires – How to Keep Your Home & Family Safe From WildfiresAir quality and evacuations are top of mind for anyone affected by wildfires. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, above-average wildfire seasons are predicted for years to come. Recently, one wildfire season in California consumed more than 4.3 million acres.

What can you do to prepare for natural disasters such as a wildfires? A great place to start is Are You Ready?, a comprehensive guide to citizen preparedness as offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). With the tagline, “Not if, but when: Every U.S. state and territory is at risk of disasters,” the FEMA guide goes on to say, “Disasters disrupt thousands of lives every year, leaving behind lasting effects on people and property. After a disaster, many others in your community need help as well. For this reason, local first responders and other assistance may not be able to reach you right away. You and your family can take simple steps now to prepare for emergencies. By doing so, you take back control—even in the uncertainty of disaster.”

To mitigate damage to your home and to keep your family safe, FEMA suggests preparing for any natural disaster by following these basics:

  • knowing your risks – any specific hazards and dangers your home and community might face due to its geographical location and vulnerability, as well as personal risks that could result in injury or loss of life
  • making a plan – including communications, evacuating, and sheltering, along with gathering emergency supplies. If you’ve securely stored all your vital homeowner documents and insurance papers online with our free DomiDocs home management platform, you’ll have instant access 24/7/365 from wherever you may be, meaning you can concentrate on immediate family needs
  • taking action – ensuring you have the insurance coverage in place that your home needs before a disaster hits, as well as practicing your disaster plan, knowing about the warning and alert systems offered, and having a home inventory list, which can again be safely uploaded to DomiDocs for easy access. At the click of a button, you can forward your stored household documents to an insurance adjuster, banks, or wherever you may need to send them

Specific to wildfires, the Are You Ready? FEMA guide also suggests:

  • setting up defense zones, and keeping vegetation, including tree canopies, and fuel sources at least 30 feet away from your property and structures
  • using fire-resistant building materials when constructing
  • having an outdoor water source available that can reach all areas of your property
  • paying attention to alerts and weather conditions
  • having enough N95 respirators on hand for everyone in your family
  • avoiding charred, smoldering, and ashen debris that can cause serious burns or even may ignite another fire

 

Just as state governors ask for Major Disaster Declarations, it’s also important for you to ask for help when needed. The contact information for emergency resources like the American Red Cross and FEMA should be included in your family’s natural disaster plan.

Insurance Company Push Back When you’re in the midst of a dealing with a natural disaster, you’ll also be dealing with your insurance company. DomiDocs CEO and Founder, William McKenna, advises to never accept your insurance company’s first settlement offer as chances are it’ll be a low-ball offer they’re just hoping you’ll take without question. Many attorneys agree that the initial offer by an insurance company should immediately be rejected. What should you do? Access your personal digital property profile on the DomiDocs Homeowner Enablement Platform®, and submit your documented receipts, photos, and videos to your insurance adjuster with just one click. Take the time to factor in missed wages, medical bills (current and future), vehicle repairs, and any other losses that occurred before accepting any settlement offers. DomiDocs has your back! Whether it’s hurricane preparedness, How To File an Insurance Claim, or mental health tips in The DomiDocs Guide: What to Do After a Hurricane Hits, we’re here for every step of your homeowner journey. Embrace the future of homeownership with DomiDocs. Isn’t it time you joined the home management revolution? DomiDocs® wants to empower homeowners through a combination of education, technology, and service providers. Here’s how you can free up your time, mitigate risks, increase your property’s value, reduce expenses, and create a digital legacy for your property, all within a secure cloud-based platform:

Welcome to the DomiDocs® era.

Author – Connie Motz