Besides having a disaster plan in place and three day’s worth of emergency supplies on hand as per the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), it’s important to know where your vital household documents are. It’s estimated that 1 in 4 Americans have lost or misplaced important household documents, while 40% can’t find vital paperwork when needed with the threat of a pending hurricane, tornado, wildfire or flash flood, you certainly don’t want to be scrambling around your home trying to find a specific piece of paperwork when natural disasters strike.
But don’t worry, DomiDocs® to the rescue! Let’s take a look at how our free homeowner management platform provides functionality to save you time and money, as well as three simple steps to digitally prep your home for natural disasters.
Step One: Gather Your Important Documents
To start the recovery process as quickly as possible after a natural disaster, you’ll need to have access to several documents including financial, household, medical, and personal information. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, your important documents may include but are not limited to:
- birth/adoption certificates
- child custody/guardianship papers
- citizenship paperwork
- divorce decree
- driver’s license
- educational diplomas and degrees
- emergency contact numbers for your doctor, pharmacy, and veterinarian, as well as your insurance broker, contractors, banks, lawyers, and extended family members
- financial statements for bank accounts, investments, and retirement savings
- healthcare information for family members such as food allergies, medical records, or an asthma action plan
- home inventory list including pictures and videos
- insurance policies for vehicles and home
- loan documentation
- marriage certificate
- military ID/discharge papers
- passports
- power of attorney
- property titles
- real estate deeds
- social security cards
- veterinary records for your pets
- will/living will
Step Two: Upload Your Vital Documents with DomiDocs®
Uploading your newly gathered critical documents to our safe and highly secure DomiDocs Homeowner Enablement Platform® is the one simple step to digitally prep your home for natural disasters. Your paperwork will be accessible 24/7/365 from wherever you may be. It’s easy to tag and organize your paperwork into categories:
- Directories including contractor services, utilities, and emergency contacts
- Documents where you can include your personal identification and legal paperwork
- Document Insurance Bundles where you can store all your insurance policies in one place and send to your insurance provider in an instant
- Notes including a copy of your disaster preparedness plan
- Photos & Videos
- Property Data including site, structure, features, and financial information
DomiDocs® offers industry-leading privacy and security. Rest assured we do not share or sell your data, ever. It’s kept completely private in your digital property, and we use a multitude of safety measures to keep your information protected and accessible only to you. Need to file an insurance claim? Once your documents are uploaded, you can share them with your insurance broker at the touch of a button.
Other non-urgent but yet vitally important paperwork you can also upload into our DomiDocs® platform for easy access may include any number of household-related documents and records:
- appraisals
- bill payments
- estimates
- guides and manuals
- heirloom photographs
- improvements
- maintenance
- mortgage
- pest exterminating
- permit history
- receipts
- registrations
- repairs
- rules & regulations
- surveys
- terms & conditions
- wind mitigation reports
- water bill
- warranties
Documenting for Disaster: How DomiDocs® Can Help You Navigate Through a Disaster
The key to weathering any natural disaster is preparation—knowledge and organization are your best tools. As a homeowner, taking proactive steps to protect your family and property before disaster strikes is essential. The secure, award-winning DomiDocs Homeowner Enablement Platform® helps you stay prepared by allowing you to:
- Create a detailed home inventory – Upload receipts, photos, and videos documenting your home’s condition and contents to ensure an accurate record for insurance purposes.
- Store and manage essential insurance documents – Use the Insurance Bundle feature to securely organize policies, including company details, coverage, cost, and policy start and end dates. A calendar timeline provides quick reference, and with one click, you can share documents with your insurance agent when filing a claim.
- Prepare for and recover quickly from any disasters – Ensure quick and easy access to critical homeownership and insurance documents before and after a natural disaster. Use the Disaster Bundle to safely store everything from insurance policies and mortgage information to your home inventory list, photos & videos and emergency vendors—allowing you to recover faster when you need it most.
- Stay ready for emergencies – Keep all your most important documents—such as IDs, medical records, financial statements, and emergency contacts—securely stored and instantly accessible. The Digital Go Bundle ensures you have everything you need in one place, whether you’re evacuating or managing post-disaster recovery.
- Follow expert homeowner guidance – Access the comprehensive DomiDocs® New Homeowner Guide, which offers best practices to help prevent insurance claims and keep your home in top condition.
By leveraging these tools, you’ll have the critical information you need at your fingertips, making it easier to recover and rebuild after a disaster.
Navigating Insurance Claims: What Every Homeowner Should Know
When you’re facing the aftermath of a natural disaster, working with your insurance company is an inevitable part of the recovery process. DomiDocs® CEO and Founder, William McKenna advises homeowners to carefully review their insurance company’s initial settlement offer, as it may not fully cover all damages. Many experts recommend assessing the offer to ensure it aligns with your policy coverage.
What should you do? Access your personal profile on the DomiDocs Homeowner Enablement Platform® to easily submit your documented receipts, photos, and videos to your insurance adjuster with just one click. Before accepting a settlement, take the time to consider all potential losses, including missed wages, medical expenses (both current and future), vehicle repairs, and any other damages. Being thorough can help ensure you receive the full coverage you’re entitled to under your policy.
DomiDocs® has your back! Whether it’s a hurricane, tornado, flood, or fire, the DomiDocs Resouce Page: How To File An Insurance Claim is here to guide you through the claims and recovery process.
Take Control of Your Homeownership Journey with DomiDocs®
Managing your home shouldn’t be stressful. DomiDocs® empowers homeowners with innovative technology, expert guidance, and unparalleled organization—all within a secure, cloud-based platform. From protecting your property and finances to streamlining essential tasks, our tools help you save time, reduce expenses, mitigate costly risks, and maximize your home’s value.
Explore the DomiDocs® suite of solutions:
- Homeowner Enablement Platform® – A centralized, digital hub for organizing documents, tracking home value, and managing property details effortlessly.
- HomeLock™ – Protects your home from fraud and title theft with 24/7 monitoring and instant alerts.
- TrueValueIndex® – Provides real-time insights into your home’s value to help you make informed financial decisions.
- propRtax® – Identifies potential property tax savings and ensures you’re not overpaying.
- Documenting for Disaster® – Securely stores critical homeownership documents, ensuring quick access before and after a disaster.
Join the home management revolution today and experience the confidence that comes with having everything you need in one place.