By Darryl J. Madden, Director, Ready Campaign

Do you have emergency supplies set aside in case there’s a disaster? Does your family have an emergency plan? For many people, planning for an emergency or disaster isn’t a priority. According to the 2009 Citizen Corps National Survey, only 36 percent of individuals believed there was a high likelihood of a natural disaster to EVER happen in their community. Many people think they have everything they need in the event of an emergency at hand, and can simply “grab and go.”

You are your family’s first responder, and in many ways you are your neighbor’s first responder. All of us as participants in our communities and members of our families need to take concrete steps to proactively prepare for emergencies and disasters. Local, state, and national authorities are going to help, but they may not be able to get to you right away. We all need to be prepared for those first 72 hours before help can reach us.

September is National Preparedness Month (NPM)—the perfect time to take action and get your family Ready. Readiness comes in many forms and preparedness is everyone’s responsibility. We have to work together, as a team, to ensure that our families, neighborhoods, and communities are Ready. Get an emergency supply kit. Make a family emergency plan. Be informed about the risks in your area. Work with your neighbor and know who might need just a little extra help.

To help get your family started, Ready Kids is a family-friendly, children-oriented tool to help parents and teachers educate children, ages 8-12, about emergencies and how they can help families better prepare. The Ready Kids Web site at ready.gov features fun activities such as a Scavenger Hunt, Pack It Up Matching game, crossword puzzles and coloring pages, as well as age-appropriate, step-by-step instructions on what families can do to better prepare for emergencies and the role kids can play in that effort.

It’s important to explain to your children that families can prepare for emergencies before they take place and that they can help, too. By doing so, you can alleviate anxiety if an emergency does occur and help to nurture a more prepared society for generations to come. Visit ready.gov/kids today and get Ready!

Without a doubt, taking pictures for your home inventory is the first and most important step towards preparing for a disaster.  In the event of a loss, insurance companies require homeowners to create a complete inventory of every item that must be replaced.  That means the pictures you compile for your home inventory will need to cover every aspect and item in your home such cooking utensils, kitchen appliances, personal grooming items, etc., as well as items outside your home such as plants, garden tools, patio furniture and even landscaping.  

So where should you start?  First of all, prepare your home to make sure it is clean, de-cluttered, and organized, including closets and drawers.  The more organized your home is, the more effective your photographs will be in the event of a loss.  Once your home is ready, try to portray the best features of each room in your pictures.  It is important to highlight each room’s assets while not detracting from them.   

Room Photography Basics:

• Turn on all lights inside your house
• Open glass doors to prevent reflection
• Open closet doors to show quantity of clothing. Make sure you capture shoes, jackets, purses, belts, etc.
• Take pictures of the insides of drawers with the contents fanned out.
• Expensive items, such as jewelry, furs, and collectibles require special care. Valuable items may need separate insurance.
• When photographing jewelry, angle the flash to avoid glare
• Use a non-glare dark cloth as a background for silver, china or jewelry
• When photographing chine, take a picture of the pattern name or manufacturer's signature along with a picture of the pattern.
• To get an overall picture, take wide-angle shots of the whole room in addition to close ups of certain items.
• If you want to take only a few pictures, either take pictures of groups of your most valuable unappraised items, or record whole rooms with your most valuable and theft-prone items prominently displayed.

What Should I Photograph? The simple answer: EVERYTHING!  The easiest way to capture everything is to start in the corner of the room and work your way around until the whole room has been covered.  For insurance purposes, it is best to show as much of the room as you can.  Don’t forget outbuildings and the garage.  Photograph power tools, generators, lawn mowers and even take detailed photos of the inside of your toolbox. 

Get the Details

Show the finishes, hardware, windows, cabinets, floors, as well as the name brands of the appliances.  Take close-up shots of special collections and other big ticket items. 

Photograph the Exterior

Don’t forget to capture the landscaping of your property, including any special features such as ponds, fountains, patios and decks.  Make sure you contact your insurance agent to see what your homeowners policy covers.  Certain items such as rare trees or shrubs and unusual landscaping aren’t considered personal property, but it will still be helpful to have a record of their appearance in case of a loss.

Keep Your Photos Out of Harm’s Way!

Once you’ve finished taking the photos for your home inventory, keeping them safe is equally as important.  Learn more about storing your photos, important documents, medical information and more here.  Or contact us and find out how our Inventory Specialists can create a complete inventory for you including photography and detailed tagging of your possessions.

Source:

Stanley, Bradford.  “Tips on Home Inventory Photography.”  DocuHome.com.  22 November 2010. http://docuhome.com/blog/the-common-stories/tips-on-home-inventory-photography/