After a disaster has occurred, it is important to return to a normal life in the shortest possible period of time. This will help relieve the stress and anxiety associated with having gone through a severe disaster.
Helping children to recover
- Keep the family together. Don't leave children with relatives or friends. They have been through a traumatic time and need the comfort of having their parents around. In particularly severe events where there has been a great deal of destruction, children are in danger of believing their parents will not return.
- Calmly explain the situation to your children. Tell them what you know about the disaster and explain what will happen next. For example, explain that until the house is repaired, you will need to stay in a shelter or at a friend's place.
- Encourage children to talk. Allow and encourage them to express their feelings.
- Include children in recovery activities. Give them tasks and responsibilities, so they feel they are contributing. Having a task will also help them understand that things will get better.
- Reassure them. This will help them realise life will eventually return to normal.
Conduct an inventory
- Make a preliminary list of damaged property and the degree of damage to each. If possible, photograph items or video tape them for comparison with pre-disaster records.
- Identify which items are missing.
- If you did not have a pre-disaster inventory list try to make one as soon as possible after the event to identify what items may be missing.
Notify creditors and employers
- You may not be able to get to work because of road closures or flooding as a result of the disaster. Ensure your employer is aware of this.
- Notify creditors as soon as possible about lost bills or difficulties in paying bills. Try to negotiate an agreement to reduce payments or spread them over a longer period.
- Notify power and phone companies if your home is unliveable or destroyed, so they can stop billing for services not provided or available.
File an insurance claim
- Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
- File a claim even if your home is not specifically covered for the type of disaster that has occurred. It is possible some of the damage can be attributed to causes that are covered. For example, you may not be covered for flooding, but are covered for water entering under the roof or under the door as result of poor rain run off.
- Erect an identifying sign on your property if destruction is wide spread to assist the claim adjusters in locating your property. Include your name, street name and number, insurance company and contact number if you are not on site.
- Provide the adjuster with your list of damages, but note in writing that it is only a partial list. You may remember more items later.
- Fully explain all losses and be sure all explanations are written down.
- Take note of all conversations with insurance adjusters for future reference.
- Do not be afraid to get a second opinion from qualified persons on the costs of repairs and replacements and compare these with what is being offered by your insurer.
- If you are unhappy with an adjusters settlement, appeal to a higher level of management in the company.
- Don't rush to settle with your insurance company. Don't accept insurance cheques as final, as you may need to file additional claims later. Consider legal advice before signing any waivers.
Avoid contractor rip-offs
- While the majority of contractors are honest and legitimate, a minority will try to take advantage of those affected by a disaster.
- As a general rule, established local contractors are less likely to give you a raw deal as they are part of the community and need ongoing work to stay in business.
- Try not to rush into your repairs. Get estimates and quotes.
- Find out what neighbours are paying for similar work.
- Get a contract in writing specifying what is to be done, when work starts, and cost and payment schedules.
- Make sure repairs will comply with local building codes.
- Have the contractor sign a release when the work is done and you have made a final payment. This will prevent the contractor from making legal claims against your property in the event of a dispute later.
- Don't make final payment until the job is done and you're happy with it.
- Be sure all work requiring council inspection is officially approved in writing before making final payment.
- Don't sign over an insurance settlement cheque to the contractor.
