Homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance is a necessity; it covers you for unexpected occurrences ranging from robberies to fires.

However, when it comes to assessing whether or not you have adequate coverage, the devil is in the details. For example, did you know that the majority of these plans do not cover floods or earthquakes or that some cover fire damage but not wildfire damage? With more and more extreme cases of weather and natural disasters, it is more important than ever to review your coverage and be certain that you have the best level of protection you can get given your budget constraints.

Here are 5 tips for getting your home insurance organized.

1. Watch What You Claim

Did you know that if you keep making small claims over and over, you may exhaust your insurance funds more quickly than you anticipated or be dropped from the plan? It may also cause your premiums significantly increase, in which case paying for that roof repair out of your pocket may be smarter financially. Look carefully at your plan before you make a claim or talk to your agent to find out all of the nitty gritty details on small claims and their effect on your coverage.

2. Take Inventory

Do you know exactly what is in your home? First of all, write down from memory everything of value in your living room from electronics to DVDs. Now take that list to the living room. Did you remember it all? Now imagine doing that for your entire home after a fire rips through your home. Everyone has valuables; they are so much more than just artwork or televisions. Think about your CD’s, iPods, clothing, outerwear, golf clubs, Corningware, picture frames.  They are all valuable and worth something. Get organized and go through your home and take an inventory of everything in your house room by room. Take photos, keep the proofs of purchase for anything in your home over $200, get appraisals done on all luxury items like jewelry, and keep it all in an easy to grab binder that you can take with you at a moment’s notice. The other reason this step is important is you may find that you are carrying insurance for $25,000 worth of goods in your home, but actually have close to $50,000 worth of items in the house. You can also hire an insurance appraiser to go through your home after you take inventory if you would like. At the bare minimum, however, having the inventory log of the valuables in your home will get you a lot more in reimbursement if the worst does occur.

3. Determine Exactly What IS Covered

Insurance packets and their corresponding websites are not written for the layperson. They can be highly confusing, full of legal mumbo-jumbo, and contain asterisked scenarios such as “If your home is damaged in a fire you are covered for X amount of dollars.”* The small print under the asterisk then clarifies along the lines of *Note: Unless you own a red car, a monkey, or have ever eaten at Dale’s Deli.” These papers can be overwhelming, so schedule an appointment with your agent and discuss the ins and outs of your current coverage. To make the conversation easier, bring your valuables binder to talk about your home inventory, and discuss events that aren’t covered by your current plan, like sewage, hurricane, flood, earthquake, etc.

4. Equip and Prepare

Owning Insurance is one piece of the puzzle, but you can also take insurance into your own hands with proper emergency planning and preparation. For example, if you live in an area that has frequent wildfires, you should clear the brush around your property on a regular basis.  You may also want to consider applying a coat or two of fire deterrent paint.  If you live in a hurricane prone area, do you have proper roofing reinforcements and windows installed? Even if you don’t live in an area with extreme weather, simply having an alarm system means fire departments will be quickly alerted of flames and police of burglaries. These safety defenses also have an added bonus: they can lower your insurance rates dramatically.

5. Have an Insurance Assessor on Deck:

Keep the contact information of a trusted insurance assessor who is not affiliated with your insurance provider in your valuables inventory log. If you ever need to file a claim, have that third party assess your damage immediately. Cover your bases and fight back by having another professional document the claim and cost so you get what you rightfully deserve. Your home is your safe haven, your livelihood. You should do everything you can to protect those assets by planning ahead

Recent hurricanes battering the Caribbean and southern United States and another Sept. 11 commemoration remind us of our fragility and the importance of getting emergency plans buttoned up.

September is National Preparedness Month, and it’s time to get your home and family ready for any event. It can be difficult to overcome the natural inclination to think “it won’t happen to me.” Getting organized and being prepared doesn’t have to involve backbreaking work. It simply means assembling the tools and resources you’ll need if the unexpected occurs.

Sarah on “Know Your Community”:

While we would put a large amount of trust in our local governments and their emergency preparedness, it is important to research their public-policy procedures for your reference. If a town/city evacuation occurs, which roads are deemed the safest? What do the sirens for each kind of emergency sound like? How does the school handle a national emergency? Being well-informed is the best way to handle any difficult situations. Also, find out emergency procedures in your workplace. For more information, log on to www.ready.gov.

Alicia on “Document the Essentials”:

Have the basics for survival, listed below, but get your documents in order ahead of time as well. Put together a binder of the most critical information for your family and home; keep it handy. The binder should contain items such as your roofer’s phone number to check for wind damage or appraisal information for furniture damaged in a flooded basement. It should be organized so even your child knows just where to look for all of your contact numbers. If it’s too daunting to make your own binder, versions such as Life.doc, Valuables.doc, Pocket.doc and Pet.doc can help you organize the essentials quickly and easily. Having this family, pet and home information at your fingertips when the worst happens can be reassuring during an unsure situation.

Here are three steps to prepare your family for anything:

# 1. Make a plan.
Have a family emergency plan. Designate specific meeting places both close to home and farther away, such as a neighbor’s home and Grandma’s house in the next city. Make sure each family member has a telephone number and e-mail contact for an out-of-state person whom everyone can contact and relay news to. In addition, prepare a list of pet-friendly family members or hotels, in case you have to evacuate. Keep these resources in mind when stocking up extra food and first-aid supplies.

# 2. Have the right supplies on hand.
Keep a supply of water, food and batteries in a waterproof container; replace this supply every six months. Store at least 3 gallons of water per person per day, canned food and a can opener in a dry, accessible place. Keep at least half a tank of gas in your car at all times in case of an evacuation. Know the best routes, avoid roads that easily flood and keep maps of alternate routes. Have enough prescriptions and over-the-counter medications on hand to last six weeks. Keep some cash on you, because ATMs and banks may be closed or not working.

#3. Get insured.
Find out the best ways to prepare your home for flood, wind, earthquake or any other elements. Get organized and be sure you document the valuables in your home, taking inventory of its contents with photos and video. Photograph the home itself, inside and out. Be ready with the proper insurance and ask what is covered and what is not. For example, with Florida basic insurance, you may be covered for tropical-storm wind damage, but flood insurance is an extra premium. If you rent, purchase renter’s insurance to cover your possessions; your landlord’s homeowners insurance will not cover it.

Almanacs and weather services have forecasted that we may be in for some severe weather this summer, whether you live in the Southeast, the Central Plains or the Southwest.

And while those are just predictions, we implore you to get organices and get prepared now. We may never be able to predict with much accuracy when and where a major storm or weather event will hit next, but when it’s upon you, it’s usually too late to as much as you would like to get ready for it; as the old proverb says: ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ We know it can seem like difficult and daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be.

Alicia on ‘Make Room for One Night of Prep Time Prime Time’

‘If it’s not planned, it rarely gets done. So the first, and easiest, step in getting organized to be prepared is to schedule time to discuss the issue with your family. We estimate that it will take three hours to develop a plan that will have you ready for anything. Instead of zoning out in front of the boob tube, schedule a ‘Prep Time Prime Time’ for your family and use that three hour block you’d normally be watching TV to discuss your needs and work together to get the basics in place. If that is impossible given extracurricular activities and competing schedules, try to make one week ‘emergency preparedness week’ and have your family spend 30 minutes a night (ideally right before or after dinner) going through the steps together.’

Sarah on ‘Avoid Analysis Paralysis’

‘A lot of people get paralyzed when putting an emergency plan together because they want it to be ‘perfect.’ So they either get a tiny fraction of the process started and stop, or they don’t get started at all. Unless you are a psychic and already know in advance every eventuality for which you must prepare, your plan may not be ‘perfect.’ But given the choice to be 80% or 90% prepared versus not at all prepared, you can and should choose the former. The trick is to organize the basics of your plan first and then from there you can layer on details as and when you see fit.’

Three Elements of a Good Emergency Plan

To help you get over any initial fears or inertia, we’ve outlined the three critical elements to a good emergency plan.

#1: Make an Evacuation Plan
Take the time to discuss as a group your plan and once you have landed on the ‘winner’, ensure that everybody is aware of it and knows exactly what to do, where to go, and who to contact. This plan should include your pets. If you are likely to head to a shelter to ride out the storm, you should know that most don’t allow pets inside, so you need to plan for their safety too. Also, make sure everyone has an out of state contact (friend or relative) to call and check in with in case you cannot all connect directly with each other.

#2: Stock Up
If you’re without electricity or running water for days after the storm passes, you’ll have a tough time unless you have stocked up on canned goods, water, flashlights, and batteries. You’ll want to have a battery operated radio on hand as well so you have the latest information as it comes across the wires.

#3: Have Records Ready
You can’t grab your filing cabinet and take it with you in an emergency. But you can grab a binder such as the Life.doc (www.getbuttonedup.com), an accordion folder or laptop computer that has your most important information in it, so it’s with you wherever you end up. The most critical sections include: basic medical information, insurance information (what policies you have and who to contact), and financial information (what accounts you have and who to contact).

Why is that that the only time we think to get prepared is when disaster is breathing down our necks?

So often we hear about hurricanes, fires or other disasters and think, ‘I should really put a few things together in case of an emergency,’ but never actually get around to doing anything about it. It’s a universal problem driven by two things. First, for many of us, it’s difficult to be sure of what is needed or how to put it together in an organized fashion. And second, the thought of something bad happening to our loved ones is often too difficult to consider. These are fears worth overcoming.

Alicia on the importance of getting informed

The most important step in getting prepared is to read up on the topic. There are many websites out there that can help you wrap your head around what exactly you need to get ready for anything. One of the best sites for this is the Department of Homeland Security. We recommend that you spend enough time on the site to gain the confidence you need to get started.

Pay particular attention to the following areas:

• Assembling a kit of emergency supplies — what’s necessary and what’s not?
• Making an emergency plan — what are the important components of a plan?
• Preparing for communication gaps — where should you look for important directives and how to you stay in touch if phones aren’t working?

Sarah on getting it done

One way to make the entire task seem less daunting is to keep in mind that it will take you less than 3 hours to get prepared for the unexpected. That’s right, isn’t your family’s safety worth one night of prime time TV? And if that still seems overwhelming, break it up into smaller bite-sized pieces. Assign one week as ‘emergency preparedness week’ and have your family spend 30 minutes a night (ideally right before or after dinner) going through the steps together. Once everyone agrees on what to do, write it down and post it in the house. Think of how much worry this will save you all down the line.

These three organizational tips are designed to help you get the basics in order.

#1: Remember the ‘Big 4′
Water, food, cash and a first aid kit are the foundation of any emergency kit. Make sure you have enough of each of these things to last each person in the house at least 5 days. Imagine how much suffering could have been avoided in the recent hurricanes if people had prepared a family emergency kit stocked with these amenities.

#2: Engage the Entire Family
Getting prepared should be a family event, not a burden for one person to carry. It’s in everybody’s best interest to know what’s been done and to be invested in the process. Make sure each family member has a job to do and encourage them to get it done within a week. One person can buy flashlights, a whistle and lots of batteries, another can find a radio (battery operated) in the house and make sure it still works, and someone else can clear out space in the pantry, garage or basement to store all of the emergency supplies.

#3: Get ‘Extras’
Think about any items that are critical to you and that may not be easy to get for a few days in an emergency and have extras on hand. Some important things to consider are prescription medicines taken regularly, glasses and contact lenses including saline solution and contact case, and baby items such as formula and diapers.

Giveaway Winner: First Alert Water Fire Protector File Chest

This year make sure your College student’s belongings are safe. Review the Top 10 crimes on College campuses today and the solutions from First Alert below.

The Winner

Thank you all who commented on the giveaway post, but this time there is only one winner. The winner of the First Alert Water Fire Protector File Chest is Sue E., chosen by random through Random.org. Sue has been notified by email of the win and has SEVEN days to respond or another winner will be chosen.

If you would like to learn more about the products listed below or if you would like to purchase the products, click on the links or go to FirstAlertStore.com.

Top 10 items stolen on college campuses*

Books –

While these may not seem like a hot commodity, books are expensive and something every college student needs to succeed. Plus, at the end of the semester, books equal cash. A compact dorm safe can keep them secure when not in use. First Alert offers a .94 cubic foot Water/Fire/Theft Digital Safe that has concealed hinges to resist prying. It also is UL classified to withstand an external temperature of 1700 degrees Fahrenheit (F) while maintaining an internal temperature of less than 350 degrees and is waterproof even when fully submerged so books, term papers, documents, electronics, electronic media and other valuables are protected from fire, flood and theft.

Cell phones and iPods –

Theft of these items and other small electronics runs rampant on college campuses across the country. Ideal for deterring would-be thieves, as well as protecting against fire and water damage, First Alert Security and Data Chests are tested and certified to withstand an external temperature up to 1,550 degrees Fahrenheit and are waterproof even when fully submerged. These are ideal options for protecting all types of electronic media including memory sticks, CDs, DVDs and external hard drives.

Laptops –

Laptop computers are major targets both on and off campus. For secure laptop storage, First Alert’s Deluxe Security Box with Cable is large enough to hold a notebook computer up to 17 inches and is insulated with double steel wall construction. It also includes a 48-inch security cable that can be attached to stationary objects (like your bed or desk) for additional protection.

Cash, credit/debit cards and jewelry –

Money and credit/debit cards are among the most commonly stolen items because they have instant value. And, jewelry remains a mainstay on the top 10 list year after year. For convenient and reliable protection, a cash box safe is a great investment in keeping valuables locked up and tucked away out of sight. First Alert’s Cash Box is constructed of durable powder-coated steel and features a removable tray along with hardware for mounting in a drawer for added security.

Materials used for identity theft –

Information can easily be taken from college forms, bank statements and even unsolicited credit card offers (popular among the college crowd). To keep personal information personal, store documents in a locking file chest. The First Alert Fire Protector File Chest stores standard letter size hanging file folders and is independently verified to protect papers as well as electronic media (memory sticks, CDs, DVDs, etc.) at temperatures up to 1,550 degrees F. First Alert also offers a new line of shredders to help safely and efficiently destroy documents and other items containing personal and/or financial information.

Rounding out the top 10 list

Rounding out the top 10 list of most commonly stolen items on college campuses are bicycles and televisions – both a bit too large to store in a safe or lock box. But, for nearly everything else on a back-to-school list, these items can be useful tools in lessening the chances of students becoming victims of campus theft.

The convenient safe solutions from First Alert are priced starting from $19.99, First Alert safes, security chests and lock boxes are sold nationwide through mass retailers and hardware stores, and online at FirstAlertStore.com.

*Source: CollegeStudentSafety.com

The Safety 1st Complete Air Convertible Car Seat with Air Protect Side Impact Technology is perfect for infants rear-facing from 5-40 lbs. and 19″-40″ and toddlers forward-facing from 22-50 lbs. and 34″-45″.

Safety 1st engineers designed Air Protect using next generation testing methods that simulate the most violent types of side impact crashes, those with vehicle intrusion. Using this advanced methodology, Air Protect was engineered to defend your child in two vital ways. During a crash, the system immediately shields your child’s head from the impact. In a second layer of defense, Air Protect allows air to escape from the headrest: channeling crash energy away from your child, creating more ride down time. It is this double layer of protection that makes Air Protect technology unique.

$219.99 at Babies “R” Us
(via The Fire Wire)

A great holiday gift idea is to buy friends & families a basic emergency kit….just in case. Include items like a first aid kit, flashlights, radio (operated with batteries). See ready.gov for more specific information. Everyone needs this!

Pets have become more than just companions; they are a part of the family.

In fact more and more pet owners are taking the love for their pet to the next level and dressing them up for Halloween. This practice is fun and adorable but it’s also important to think about your pet’s safety to protect them from things that go bump in the night.

Alicia on “The Importance of Registration.”

Animal shelters often get a lot of animals around Halloween that escape from their owner’s homes or yards in the midst of all the commotion of the parties, guests, and trick-or-treaters. Before the big day, have your pet registered or even better, microchipped. If you can’t make that happen, be extra vigilant and keep an eye on your pet whenever the door opens or closes. Ideally, keep your pet in a closed off area for any parties or when you’re expecting trick-or-treaters.

If you take your dog along with you on Halloween night with the kids, keep it on a reflective leash and collar or harness. This will not only keep the dog safe from cars and running off, but will allow you to control it around other children. Even the world’s best dog can snap at a child with a frightening mask and an antagonizing attitude. If you have an indoor/outdoor cat, keep it inside for the night as the extra cars in the neighborhood will be a hazard. Also- Don’t forget to have your Pet.doc filled out, just in case!

Sarah on “Leaving them Home Alone”

If you and your little goblins are going to be out all evening collecting treats, think ahead and make a plan for your pet. Does the sound of voices outside make the dog anxious or prone to fits of barking? If so, you might want to keep it in a room toward the back of the house and consider setting up a gentle noisemaker or playing the radio. In addition, you’ll want to eliminate needless doorbell ringing, which can agitate Fluffy and Fido. That means setting up a treat station by your front door. Instead of putting out loose candy for kids to pick and choose, purchase small paper loot bags, place two or three pieces of candy inside, and tie the bags closed with ribbon. Then place the bags in a bowl or plastic cauldron and cover the top with a few faux cobwebs. All kids will enjoy this trick to get to those treats — and they’ll be quick too, which means they’ll be less likely to disturb your pet.

Here are three additional ways to get your furry friend Buttoned Up for Halloween.

#1. Watch the Candles:
Curiosity killed the … well, literally, cats and dogs are exploratory species, so even if they feel the heat from a candle they may still try to touch it. Keep candles away from your pets.

#2. Check Costumes for Safety Hazards:
If you’re dressing up Fido, be sure the costume doesn’t have any loose parts he can eat! Loose parts can also cause your pet to trip or become tangled in the costume, resulting in injury or a future dislike of the holiday (yes pets will remember!). Also be sure that the costume is properly ventilated as your pet can overheat if the costume is too hot or heavy. Be sure to check your pet often to see if it is panting or uncomfortable. It’s also good to practice and listen to your pet: Try the costume on and have the pet wear it several times before Halloween. If the pet hates the costume, forcing him to wear it can cause bad behaviors, so be courteous to your four-legged friend- no matter how cute he may look in it.

#3. Be a Good Gatekeeper:
No matter how tempting, don’t give your pets people candy or treats. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats and the amount of sugar in other treats will make them sick. Keep your children’s loot out of reach so pets don’t dig into it when you’re sleeping. If you’re worried they’re feeling left out, give them their own doggie or kitty friendly goodies when they are behaving nicely to guests or wearing their costume proudly.

Getting your young children ready to go back to school shouldn’t stop with school supplies. You also should be thinking about getting their health and safety organized. It may not be something that you want to think about, but a little bit of preparation can make all the difference. We urge you to take a few minutes this week and make a plan.

Alicia on “Stranger Safety ”

“Nothing is more important than the safety of your child. As the old adage says, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The most important thing is to teach your child what to do if they are lost or are approached by a stranger. A few minutes of preparation will give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing your child is prepared. For great information and resources, check out this website for more information.

Sarah on “Get Your Flu Shots”

“Doctors across the world are gearing up for more than just a regular flu season this year. With the swine flu (H1N1 virus) posed to re-emerge this fall, parents and caregivers need to be extra vigilant about vaccinations. Experts say that, unlike seasonal flu, which typically strikes hardest at the very young and the elderly, H1N1 swine flu has proven more troublesome for children and young adults. It has also been hard on pregnant women. So if you’re expecting, or have young, school aged children, you should make an appointment with your physician and/or pediatrician now to get properly vaccinated. Don’t wait.”

Here are a few more tips to get your child’s safety Buttoned Up:

1. Get an ID Kit

Many schools have ID days, where safety experts come and create basic ID kits for young children, including fingerprints. Call your school’s administrator to find out if they will have one. If not, it only takes a few minutes to make one of your own. We like the kits made by 911childid.com and safety-identification-products.com, both of which you can order directly online. These cards make it easy for you to capture and store critical elements of identification, like fingerprints and photos. A few minutes of preparation will give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing your child’s ID information is organized and stored in one place.

Role Play

Another important thing to do is teach your child what to do if they are lost or are approached by a stranger. Consider role playing with them during calm or quiet moments. Good questions to try out are:

• What would you do if we were in a store and you looked up and you couldn’t find mommy or daddy? Good answers are: find a policeman, and if a policeman wasn’t there, go to a person at a cash register or find another mommy with children.
• What would you ask the person to do? Good answers are: tell them your first and last name, ask them to help you find your mommy or daddy, and wait there until mommy or daddy come back to get you.
• What if someone tried to make you go with them that wasn’t mom or dad? A good answer is yell and scream and say “NO! You are not my mom or dad!”

3. Make Sure They Have Important Info Easily Available

Your child should always have important medical and contact information with him at all times, just in case something happens. We strongly recommend parents get something like a Pocket.doc (or laminate your own information card), available online at www.FranklinPlanner.com, which keeps critical emergency, medical, and contact information at the ready. Fill out one for each child and place in the front pocket of each child’s backpack.

Having Safe Fun In The Sun With Your Kids

With the warm weather finally here, everyone’s thoughts turn to lazy afternoons outside. Well, everyone that is, except moms with kids who know that a day in the park or backyard means a forty-yard dash as you try to keep up with your children.

And while summers are filled with care “free” days, they still need to be careful days as well. This is especially true if you or friends you are visiting have a pool.

The statistics are sobering. Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related deaths among children. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 300 children under 5 years old drown in swimming pools. Another 2,000 children are treated in emergency rooms for submersion injuries. Approximately 75% of those children were between 1 and 3 years of age. Also, at the time of the incident most of the children were being supervised by one or both parents. Drowning can occur in a matter of minutes and, unlike scenes in movies or on TV, drowning victims cannot cry out – drowning is a silent death.

The following are some important recommendations from the Consumer Product Safety Commission in helping create a safer environment if you own a pool.

• Install a fence completely around your pool. This should be at least four feet high but preferably five feet. If your house opens right onto the pool, the doors leading from the house to the pool should be protected with an alarm.

• Vertical slats on the fence should be less than 4 inches apart to prevent a child from squeezing through.

• If the fence is chain link, then no part of the diamond-shaped opening should be larger than 1-3/4 inches.

• Be sure there are no objects such as lawn chairs or riding toys around the fence that your child could use as leverage to climb over.

• Fence gates should be self-closing and self-latching.

• A power safety cover should also be installed. Be sure this cover meets the requirements of the ASTM pool cover standard that addresses labeling requirements and performance.

• If you have an above-ground pool, steps and ladders leading to the pool should be secured and locked or removed when the pool is not in use.

Along with securing your pool, it’s important to remember these safety rules:

• Make sure babysitters or anyone else watching your children know about the safety devices for your pool and that you expect them to keep your child in sight at all times.

• Keep a portable phone at the pool with you and have all emergency numbers on hand.

• Take a CPR course or take a refresher course.

• If a child is missing immediately check the pool. Seconds could make the difference between life and death.

• Do not assume that because your child has had swim lessons, he could not drown.

• If you are having a party, designate a second person to watch your child while you might be tending to guests.

• Never leave toys, that might be enticing to a child, near a pool

Pool safety is also something to consider when visiting friends or relatives. We are all taught to be polite, but your child’s safety is much more important than being diplomatic. If you are visiting someone who does not have a fence around their pool with a self-closing and self-latching gate, consider very carefully if you feel this is a safe environment for your child to be in. I know, I know, you never take your eyes off your children, but statistics don’t lie. 77% of the victims had been missing from sight for five minutes or less, the time it takes to answer a phone or run after another child. Don’t let your child become a statistic.

About Alison:

From pool safety and burn prevention to sports injuries and environmental toxins, Alison Rhodes, The Safety Mom is always on the lookout for dangers facing all children – newborns to teens.

After experiencing the death of her child from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Rhodes became committed to saving children’s lives and is the national voice for child health and safety. As one of the country’s leading child safety authorities, Rhodes provides tips and advice to parents on a broad range of issues.

To find out more safety tips from Alison visit www.safetymom.com