September is National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month
Did you know that September is National Preparedness Month? When conducting an insurance inspection this month, be sure to make insureds aware of how they can prepare for disasters or emergencies in their homes and commercial properties. We’ve talked about ways to prepare for hurricane season, but it’s important to also discuss ways to mitigate risk associated with contamination, leaks, spills, and exposure to hazardous materials as it pertains to residential and commercial property.
Outlined below are several ways that you can use an insurance inspection to educate insureds about ways to prepare for natural disasters and reduce risks related to health and the environment:

Make Property Owners Aware Of How To Report An Emergency
Beyond dialing 911, insureds need to be aware of how to report an emergency that directly impacts their property.

If there has been any type of oil spillage or hazardous substance release, property owners should immediately call the National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802.

Encourage insureds to also add Poison Control to their phone contacts for easy access in the event of any type of pesticide poisoning: 1-800-222-1222.

Discuss Safe Generator Use
Having access to a generator is ideal for property owners that reside in areas that are susceptible to power outages due to inclement weather. It’s critical that insurance carriers make property owners aware of safe placement guidelines for a generator.

A generator should never be used inside of a home, basement, garage, crawl space, or other enclosed area as the exhaust put off by the generator can be deadly. Instead, place a generator outside of the structure far enough away from walls, doors, windows, and vents to prevent exposure to carbon monoxide.

Prepare For Safe Drinking Water
If the property has a private well as a water source, it should be inspected after a flood to ensure that the water is safe to drink. With that being said, property owners should keep at least a 3-day supply of drinking water on hand in the event that water is unavailable.

Seal Windows And Doorways
Mitigate the risk of wind and water damage to a property by using an insurance inspection to check for entryways that need to be sealed. Caulking and sealing around windows, doors, roof flashing, and other entry points to the property is an economic solution for preventing moisture and mold issues.

Plan For Disaster Debris
Depending on the size of the storm, debris can range from damage to personal property to destroyed structures. Property owners should have a plan in place for how to debris cleanup after a major storm or man-made disaster.

How Insurance Risk Services Can Help
Our team at Insurance Risk Services has nearly 40 years of experience in providing in-person insurance inspections, and we are well-versed in how to educate insureds about ways to mitigate risk around the property in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.

National Preparedness Month is nothing something that should be taken lightly. Contact us to learn more about how we can help insurance carriers prepare their customers for the unexpected.