What Do I Do If My House Catches Fire?
2009-01-03
If your house burns down, the first thing to do is be sure that everyone in your household is physically and mentally ok. Even if you were not at home the mental effects of a house fire can be difficult, especially with children. If you were at home, be sure that everyone is inspected by a doctor or paramedic even if they have no signs of outward injury. There may suffer from slight smoke-inhalation or other unseen injuries. Finally, call your local home insurance agent or online home insurance agent and have them send a representative to inspect the damage.
There are more than 500,000 house fires each year, causing families a great amount of heartache and trouble. Many people die in these fires, due to not having smoke alarms or non-working smoke alarms. Experts recommend having a smoke alarm on each level of the home and replace the batteries every six months. Amazingly, many families have a smoke alarm on each floor, but they never change the batteries and the smoke alarm doesn't work. Many home insurance agents and firefighters have commented on how many torched homes they see with smoke alarms without batteries. The good news is, many of these families carry online home insurance, which pays for a variety of the damages and replacement costs of personal property and the home itself.
If your home burns down, follow these steps. However, depending on your personal situation, you may not do these in the exact order. Perform them in order of personal importance and situation:
- Be sure everyone is safe and secure. Have them inspected by a doctor or paramedic as quickly as possible.
- Find shelter for the night. Go to a hotel, friend or family member's house and take time to recover. Do not make any permanent decisions about housing while you are still in shock.
- Contact the American Red Cross the next day for assistance. They can provide emergency shelter, clothing or food if you are in need.
- Contact your home insurance agent and have him/her inspect the damage. If you purchased home insurance online, contact the agency and they will send out a claims adjuster. He/She will document the damage, and may arrange for immediate shelter or money, depending on your coverage.
- Call your boss, friends and extended family to let them know the news.
- Make a list of your possessions and approximate values that were lost in the fire. Give this to your online home insurance agent to aid in the determination of the claim.
- Arrange for long-term or permanent shelter. This may mean finding a new home, or renting an apartment while your current home is fixed. Many home insurance companies will pay for your shelter while the home is repaired.
Of course, the best thing to do is take as many steps as possible to prevent a house fire. Many are started by stray cigarettes, candles and space heaters. Be cautious, careful, and use common sense. Most of all, search for home insurance online and get quality coverage.