AFTER THE FIRE WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT?

Transcription

1 AFTER THE FIRE WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT?

2 Being a victim f fire can be a traumatic and devastating experience. Having the right assistance and advice when yu need it will help yu thrugh this difficult time. The advice given here shuld help yu t begin the recvery prcess. Often, the hardest part is knwing where t begin and wh t cntact. The Washingtn Twnship/Avn Fire Department has gathered the fllwing infrmatin t assist yu in this time f need. Actin n sme f the suggestins will need t be taken immediately. Sme actins may be needed in the future. Our purpse is t give yu the assistance needed t help yu begin rebuilding yur life. We the members f the Washingtn Twnship/Avn Fire Department, demnstrating hnr, integrity and trust, will cntinually strive fr excellence by anticipating the current and future needs f ur cmmunity. 2 P a g e

3 Table f Cntents This guide cntains infrmatin that will save yu a lt f time and wrry abut what t d next if yu have experienced a fire. The First 24 Hurs 4-5 Helpful Insurance Advice 6-7 Lst Dcuments Advice 8 Helpful Cntact Infrmatin 9 Preventin Tips 10 Please read this imprtant nte... This packet des nt imply endrsement by the Washingtn Twnship/Avn Fire Department f the services prvided. Infrmatin is cntained in this dcument n hw t lcate ther service prviders. As individual circumstances and damage cnditins vary, the guidance given in this bk must be cnsidered general advice nly. Prfessinal pinin shuld be sught befre prceeding with decisins and any wrk. Washingtn Twnship/Avn Fire Department will nt be held respnsible fr the cnsequences f fllwing advice cntained in this guide. 3 P a g e

4 When we leave what d yu d next? The First 24 Hurs Yur prperty becmes yur respnsibility when the fire department leaves. Yu will want t secure yurself and yur site. Cntact yur insurance agent/cmpany If we have nt dne s already, cntact the American Red Crss r Salvatin Army t help yu with yur immediate needs such as: Temprary husing Fd Medicine Eyeglasses Clthing Other essential items LEAVING YOUR PROPERTY UNATTENDED? 1. Cntact yur lcal plice department t make them aware yur prperty will be unccupied. 2. Clse all the windws and drs, if it is safe t d s this will discurage trespassers. Shuld windws r drs require barding up, a cntractr shuld be cntacted. 3. Beginning immediately, save receipts fr any mney yu spend. These receipts are imprtant in shwing the insurance cmpany what mney yu have spent related t yur fire lss. They will als help verify lsses claimed n yur incme tax. 4. If it is safe t d s, try t lcate the fllwing items: 5. There are many peple/entities that shuld be ntified f yur relcatin, including: insurance 4 P a g e cmpany, mrtgage cmpany, family and friends, emplyer, yur child s schl, pst ffice, and utility cmpanies. driver's licenses and scial security cards insurance infrmatin medicatin eyeglasses and hearing aids valuables, such as credit cards, cash, and jewelry 6. D nt thrw away any damaged gds until yu have taken an inventry. All damages will be taken int accunt in develping yur insurance claim. 7. If yu are cnsidering hiring a cntractr fr inventry r repair services, discuss yur plans with yur insurance agent/cmpany first.

5 IF YOU ARE INSURED Give ntice f the lss t the insurance cmpany. Ask yur insurance cmpany what t d abut yur immediate needs such as cvering drs, windws, ther expsed areas, and standing water remval. Sme plicy hlders may be required t make an inventry f damaged persnal prperty. IF YOU ARE NOT INSURED Yur recvery frm a fire lss may depend n yur wn resurces and help frm the cmmunity. See the list f lcal rganizatins n page 9 that may be able t prvide assistance t yu. IF YOU ARE A TENANT If yu are a tenant, cntact the building wner, yur landlrd, r their agent. It is ften their respnsibility t arrange any repair wrk necessary t yur gas, electricity and water supplies. They may als be respnsible fr re-securing the prperty. Check with yur building wner r landlrd befre arranging any wrk t be dne. GET ADVICE BEFORE RECONNECTING Gas, electricity and water services may have been turned ff r discnnected. Under n circumstances shuld yu attempt t recnnect r turn n utilities yurself. Cntact the gas and electricity cmpanies t arrange recnnectin. 5 P a g e

6 Helpful Insurance Advice WHO DOES THE EMERGENCY WORK? Yur insurance plicy shuld entitle yu t have assistance. In the event f a claim yu shuld be sure that yu receive the services yu have prepaid fr in yur premiums. Yu may be aware that sme insurance cmpanies nw send natinal cntractrs t cmplete restratin wrk. Hwever, as a custmer, yu d nt have t accept yur insurer s chice and can in fact chse a cmpany yurself. WHAT TYPE OF WORK DO THEY DO? Restratin cmpanies prvide a wide range f services. They may include sme r all f the fllwing: securing the site against further damage estimating structural damage repairing structural damage packing, transpratin, and strage f husehld items string repaired items until needed WHO PAYS FOR THE EMERGENCY WORK? The cst f immediate damage wrk is usually cvered by yur insurance, prvided that yu are insured. Be sure t request an estimate f cst fr the wrk. Once chsen, stay in cntact with yur restratin cmpany thrughut the prcess t ensure that the wrk being dne remains within yur plicy cverage. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? Yur insurance cmpany expects yu t take prmpt actin after the firefighters have left t limit further damage. Yur chsen restratin cmpany can help yu by taking actin t prevent further damage. TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS Take pictures f items that have been damaged. PREPARING YOUR CLAIM Make a detailed list f all the damaged items with replacement csts, if pssible. Yur chsen restratin cmpany may be able t assist yu by reprting n damage cnditins and/r arranging fr inspectins. Yu will want t prvide this infrmatin t yur insurance cmpany. Remember t keep cpies f all crrespndence, invices, and receipts. 6 P a g e

7 Stay in cntact with yur insurance prvider t ensure that the wrk being dne is cvered in yur plicy. VALUING YOUR PROPERTY Yu may want t knw the fllwing terms t help yu understand the prcess f determining the value f yur fire lss: Persnal Valuatin: Persnal items have SENTIMENTAL VALUE t yu; hwever, it is an bjective measure f value. Yu will use this as a cmmn grund fr discussin. Cst when purchased: this is imprtant when valuing an item s value. Any receipts that yu have kept will help verify the cst. Fair market value befre the fire: This is als knwn as ACTUAL CASH VALUE. This value is what yu culd have received fr the item if yu had sld it the day befre yur fire. Value after the fire: This is als knwn as the item s salvage value. 7 P a g e

8 Lst Dcuments Advice Here is a checklist f dcuments yu will need t replace if they have been destryed. Item Wh t Cntact Cntact Infrmatin Driver s License and Vehicle Recrds Banking Infrmatin Mrtgage Dcuments Insurance Plicy Passprts Birth /Marriage/ Death Certificates Divrce Decree Scial Security r Medicare Cards Credit Cards Stcks and Bnds Wills Medical Recrds Warranties Incme Tax Recrds Citizenship Papers Lcal BMV Yur bank, as sn as pssible Yur bank r lending institutin Yur insurance agent The U.S. Department f State Indiana State Department f Health (ISDH) Curt where decree was issued Scial Security Administratin Credit cmpany, as sn as pssible Issuing cmpany r yur brker Yur lawyer Yur dctr s ffice Issuing Cmpany IRS U.S. Immigratin and Naturalizatin Service E. Main St. Brwnsburg 789 E. Main St. Danville 995 Andic Rd. - Plainfield travel.state.gv (317) (317) P a g e

9 Helpful Cntact Infrmatin Service Wh t Cntact Cntact Infrmatin Hme Restratin 360 Restratin Red Crss Salvatin Army Strage BardUp Servpr Mre Restratin American Red Crss f Greater Indianaplis Plainfield Plice Department Hendricks Cunty Sherriff s Office Avn Self Strage Strage Express Infinite Self Strage Brwnsburg Main Street Self Strage Brwnsburg Brwnsburg East Self Strage BOARDUP ( ) Phne: Tll-free: (317) (317) (317) r (317) (317) (317) (317) (317) If yur utilities have been discnnected, yu will need t cntact yur lcal utility cmpany t turn them back n. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TURN UTILITIES BACK ON YOURSELF. Utility Cmpany Cntact Infrmatin Vectren Hendricks Pwer Duke Energy Citizens Water Plainfield Water Nn-Emergency Avn Plice Department Hendricks Cunty Sherriff Washingtn Twnship Avn Fire Department P a g e

10 Preventin Tips FIRE IS DANGEROUS D nt underestimate the danger f fire. Yu can be practive t prevent it frm happening. Think abut what yu culd have dne t prevent it r t warn yu f the fire. THINK OF FIRE SAFETY IN YOUR HOME The experience yu have been thrugh may have been traumatic and pssibly cstly. A few minutes f yur time taken t implement a number f simple fire safety measures will give yu valuable prtectin and peace f mind. Hmewners and businesses can btain advice abut fire preventin, types f smke alarms and extinguishers frm the Washingtn Twnship Avn Fire Department. Please call us at if yu wuld like sme mre infrmatin. SIMPLE STEPS TO MINIMIZE RISK Make an escape plan. Make sure t invlve everybdy. Plan and discuss escape rutes and plan what t d if trapped upstairs. Try ut yur plan with yur family. Make sure everyne knws what they must d. Turn ff and unplug electrical appliances that are nt in use. Clse interir drs at night. Put ut candles and cigarettes prperly. Keep keys fr windws readily available in each rm especially upstairs. Infrm guests abut yur escape plan. Install and/r regularly test the peratin f smke alarms nce a mnth. Never take ut smke alarm batteries t use in tys etc. Mst fire deaths ccur in the hme. Yu are mre likely t be injured during the night get used t checking yur hme befre yu g t bed. Change yur smke alarm batteries at least nce a year. 10 P a g e