In the US, cooking, heating, cigarette smoking, candles, and electrical problems are the top reasons for a home fire. Statistics say that around 358,500 house fires take place each year. It shows that even the best precautions can not eliminate the danger of fires at home.
In case of the unthinkable, what should you do after a fire disaster on your property?
1. Leave and Look For a Safe Place to Stay
Even if you think the damage is minor, you can not risk your loved ones’ safety and wellness staying at home. If staying with family members or friends is not an option, you might speak with your local disaster relief department. They can find you a safe place to stay temporarily. If you have the means, you may also consider staying in a hotel for a while.
Ensure to speak to the owner of the property right away if you are renting. This will help them decide on the house and start with the recovery process.
2. Contact Your Insurance
Always call your insurance right after a house disaster occurs, and never assume that someone will do it for you. This will start the event documents and claim process. Your insurance coverage might cover your living and other daily expenses, such as your hotel expenses. Whether or not you get this in advance, save all receipts and keep a detailed document of all your purchases.
They should assist you in securing your home and recommend restoration companies for cleanup and recovering items that can be saved. If you can, get fire reports from your local area fire department because these can help provide more information to your insurance provider.
In addition to these, it’s best if you have a list of your trusted local area restoration experts. You can ask for recommendations or go online and search “fire damage Redmond” if you’re in the area.
3. Determine if Your House is Safe to Enter
Never enter a house or building that a fire has harmed until the fire department informs you it’s safe to do so. Remember that fires can start again even if they appear to be out. Furthermore, damaged roofs and floors can fall and hit you.
There are also health threats triggered by inhaling soot and smoke, particularly for an extensive period. If you were given a signal to enter your house, recover belongings and important papers, including birth certificates, passports, medical records, and so on. Most importantly, never smoke while near your damaged home or bring any flammable items.
4. Organize and Recover Your Possessions
Separate damage from undamaged things to make it easier for your insurance agency. In most cases, your homeowner’s policy will refund all the costs of all your damaged possessions. Consider maintaining a home inventory of your valuables to ensure everything is accounted for.
Your inventory should include the date of purchase, expenses, and descriptions of each product if possible. You can also attach receipts or bank statements, and providing pictures can be a great help.
5. Care for Your Pets
Take your pets to your trusted vet immediately. In some cases, the effects of home fires can take several hours to become lethal. Your veterinarian will assess your pet’s lungs, heart, eyes, and skin. You might not be aware, but burns can be hidden under their fur.
Expect that they may need laboratory work, such as an x-ray of the lungs. Depending on the situation, they can also be in oxygen care, IV fluids, or some surgical procedures in extreme burns.
6. Look after Your Family’s Mental Health
Disasters can cause emotional distress, in addition to physical injuries. Imagine losing your house, your belongings, and treasured items. It’s normal to experience anger, shock, depression, and hopelessness. But in time, you can reach a stage of acceptance and move on.
Get support from your family, friends, co-workers, as well as people around you, and avoid isolating yourself too much. Allow yourself to weep, feel bad, and release negative emotions in a healthy and balanced way. Nevertheless, give yourself permission to feel good despite what transpired. If you have children, be a good positive example in recovering healthily. Click here to know more about fire damage and how to recover.
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