Recovering from a Fire

Putting your life together is difficult after any traumatic event, but after a fire it can be especially challenging. Not only will you need to deal with the emotional aftermath of the event, but you also need to organize the belongings that you have which are salvageable while arranging a place for your family to live for as long as it will take to make your home livable again. When you understand all the steps you need to take after a fire BEFORE it happens to you, you might be better prepared to deal with the aftermath. Here is a list to help you in the event that you are affected by a fire.

1. First, make sure you and your family have a safe place to stay. Make sure you have a place to sleep, clothes to wear and a place to bathe. If you need certain medications that you no longer have access to or you need eyeglasses, prosthetics, food or any other basic living essential, contact your local charitable and emergency management organizations like the Red Cross and they should be able to offer you a temporary supply or contact information to a group that can.
2. Notify your loved ones about where you will be so that they know you are in a safe place. Your fire might make the evening news, and leaving your friends and other loved ones to find out about it that way is probably not a good idea. Make some calls and ask others to spread the word for you so that no one in your circle is unduly concerned about your family’s well being.
3. Do not linger on the premises until you get the all-clear from the police and fire department.
4. Call your insurance company to have an adjuster come out as soon as possible. You should do your best to leave the site intact until the adjuster arrives. Do not sort through the rubble or begin any cleanup efforts until after the insurance adjuster has met with you and completed the list of personal effects that are missing or damaged. You should also give your adjuster copies of any pictures you have of your home and contents taken before the fire.

Read the full story. For more details about how to safely handle yourself after a fire, you can visit the U.S. Fire Administration website.

Call us at 512-869-1511 for more details on home insurance in Round Rock, Georgetown or Killeen Texas.