A home inventory now will help you after the typhoon
Set aside an afternoon to complete a home inventory, which will make filing a claim after the storm much easier. The inventory is not just useful after a typhoon, but if you have property loss due to fire or burglary, you'll already have descriptions and serial numbers of items.
Here are tips from the Insurance Information Institute:
- You can use pen and paper, take photos or use a mobile app for the inventory. Or you can do a video walk-through, describing the items, value, year and place of purchase as you go.
- Start in a contained area, and move throughout the home. Describe each item you record, and note where you bought it, the make and model, what you paid and any other detail that might help in the event you need to make a claim.
- Count clothing by general category – how many pairs of jeans, sneakers, dress shirts. Make note of any items that are especially valuable.
- Record serial numbers – Usually found on the back or bottom of major appliances and electronic equipment, serial numbers are a useful reference. Photographing these numbers will also work.
- Don't forget to include any items stored in another location.
- Keep proof of value – Store sales receipts, purchase contracts, and appraisals with your list.
- Once you've started your inventory, keep going even if you can't get it all done immediately. It's better to have an incomplete inventory than nothing at all.
- Keep your home inventory up-to-date and safely stored.
- Whether you have the inventory on a piece of paper or on a video, keep it backed up and in a safe place.
- Add significant new purchases to your list – Make it a habit to add the item information and receipts to your inventory while the details are fresh in your mind.
Don't forget to scan your important documents as well
Important documents can easily be lost in the wind, rain and chaos of a major disaster.
To keep yours safe:
- Gather important identification documents like driver's licenses, passports, vaccination records, medical records, insurance documents and birth certificates.
- Grab the medical and registration records for your pets as well.
- Use a scanner or your phone to make digital copies. Make sure to store these in a secure location.
- Back up your computer.
- Once you've scanned important records, make sure to scan old photos and other documents you wouldn't want to lose.
Personal storm planner
Calculate the supplies your family will need to stay safe for three to seven days after the storm. Answer a few questions, and we'll help you get a shopping/supply list together.
COR 4: Always ready
Under Condition of Readiness 4, damaging winds (39 mph sustained or higher) may arrive within 72 hours. Guam is always in Condition of Readiness 4.
What do all these storm terms mean?
Is it COR 3 and COR 2? When does a watch become a warning? Check out our guide to storm terms.
Build your emergency kit
Gather the supplies you need to keep your family safe until the danger has passed.
Get your pets ready
Here's what you need to do to keep your pets safe during the storm. They'll need an emergency kit and supplies of their own.
Make your communication plan
Make sure your family knows what to do and where to go when the warnings start. Decide where to meet, how to communicate.