Info for Consumers
		Privacy
		Advice@American Express
		Tips, Tools &
		Information
		Consumer FAQs

This Week's Article

Advice Archive by date

Advice Archive by topic

Protecting your home and family from dangerous summer storms

Some of the most volatile, and potentially dangerous, weather of the year occurs during the warmer months. According to the National Weather Service, lightning strikes are responsible each year for 93 deaths and another 300 injuries, and tornadoes cause 42 fatalities.

Be prepared and stay informed. You can keep tabs on local weather and learn more about disaster preparation.

Create a disaster plan. Anticipating a potential weather disaster can help minimize its effects and perhaps even save lives:

• Discuss with your family the types of disasters that are most likely to happen in your area and what to do in each case.
• Find the safe places in your home for each type of disaster.
• Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find two ways out of each room.
• Choose two places to meet: one right outside your home and another outside your neighborhood, in case you can’t return home.
• Ask someone in a distant location to be an emergency contact. Make sure that each family member knows the phone number and will call this person and report in.
• Make a plan to care for pets.

Practice your plan. Run your family through a disaster drill every six months – especially if you have young children. Practice sitting there together in a safe zone in your house; as well as evacuating your home.

Assemble a disaster supply kit. Include a flashlight, extra batteries, bottled water, non-perishable food, a can opener, a first aid kit, a battery-operated radio and blankets. Keep food items in airtight plastic bags and check your food and water supply every six months to make sure they remain fresh.

Secure important documents. Store in a secure, easily accessible location, known to all family members:

Wills, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, investments, passports, social security cards, immunization records, bank accounts, credit card accounts, inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers and family birth, marriage and death certificates.

Protect yourself with insurance. Before disaster strikes, review your homeowner’s insurance policy regularly to make sure you have the coverage you need. With home prices continually escalating, you may find your protection is no longer adequate. You’ll also want to have a clear understanding of what your policy offers. For example, if you live in or near a flood plain, you may want to explore the possibility of adding flood damage coverage.

In reviewing your financial goals, it can be very helpful to consult a qualified financial advisor to see how it fits into your overall financial plan.

July 19, 2001

Copyright (c) 2000 American Express Company. All Rights Reserved. Users of this site agree to be bound by the terms of the American Express Web Site Rules and Regulations. View Web Site Rules and Regulations and trademarks and Privacy Statement of American Express. See Corporate Entities and Important Disclosures for additional information about the American Express entities who offer products and services on americanexpress.com. American Express Brokerage is offered by American Express Financial Advisors Inc., Member NASD and SIPC. American Express Company is separate from American Express Financial Advisors Inc. and is not a broker dealer.