In terms of personal things to do after a tornado damaged your home, the list is pretty short. The most important thing to do is get out alive! But even though your home is probably salvageable, do not put anything away that you may need to return to at a later date. Things such as medicine and sentimental keepsakes are great to have lying around anyway, so consider storing them in your car.
When you arrive home, do not set up any protection from the wind. Even if you think you are safe, it’s still a good idea to shut off your power. Also, when you hear any thunderstorm noises or debris start to fall, get inside your house immediately. If the damage is extensive, have someone else come by your home with an appropriate vehicle to survey the damage.
When you are sure that the damage to your home is limited, have someone go through the inventory to see what you have. You may have some sentimental items that are irreplaceable such as photographs or a family photo. These can often be restored and are items that you will want to save. Some other items to have identified and saved are things like your family insurance policy, keys, lockets, and the like.
When you are home, have someone check your local phone lines and your internet to see if there are further updates. Contact your insurance company if you have any concerns regarding your home and the storm. Make sure your insurance company knows that you are concerned about the safety of your home and family.
As far as personal things to do after a tornado damaged your home, there are quite a few. Start by keeping your pets out of the house, and make sure your pets are in a safe place. Then, get all of your important paperwork in order so that you can get it certified by a professional to ensure that your home is protected from further damage.
After the storm has ended, you will have to take stock of what is going on. Contact your insurance adjuster and let him know what happened. This will allow him to evaluate the damage and see if you qualify for additional coverage. In addition, if you did receive wind damage, your insurance adjuster will want to know what happened so he can help you with your home insurance claim.
Finally, it is important to clean up and repair your home as soon as possible. Remove debris, clean up, and dry out anything that is not salvageable. When you first start to get started, things to do after a tornado damaged your home may seem like they are too many, but it is important to clear out the home as quickly as possible so that it is safe to come back into. After all, if the home is unstable, it could easily be torn down again!
It may take time and money to rebuild your home after a tornado has devastated it, but it will be well worth the effort when you are finished rebuilding. There are a number of things to do after a tornado damaged your home, but the most important ones are safety and getting your life back together. Take care of all of your physical needs before you try to put your mind to other things. You never know when another disaster or emergency will hit.
After the cleanup has been done and you are able to return to your home, there are still important tasks that you need to accomplish. First, assess the damages and the amount of water and other debris that was lost. Make a list of damaged items and their locations. Put these in a place where they can easily be found.
Next, clean up your home to make it as appealing as possible. Put out large pieces of plywood to protect certain areas, such as your floor, walls, and cabinets. Also, remove any items that are too dangerous to throw out such as broken glass, breakable pots and pans, dangerous electrical cords, and empty medicine bottles. Do not forget to organize your garage and place any old furniture in the closet.
These are the most important things to do after a tornado damaged your home. There are likely other items that you will need to do, but these are the basics. When it comes to living after a tornado, being prepared is very important. If you have a home repair kit, follow these steps to get you and your family back on your feet.
