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The I.I.I. Suggests Six Steps to Prepare For a Catastrophe

INSURANCE INFORMATION INSTITUTE
Contact: Press Offices
New York: 212-346-5500; media@iii.org
Washington, D.C.: 202-833-1580

NEW YORK, April 28, 2008 - Meteorologists predict that 2008 will be a very active hurricane season and warn that dangerous storms could threaten coastal communities from Texas to New England this summer and fall. According to the (I.I.I.), now is the time to prepare for a hurricane or other disaster by reviewing your insurance coverage and creating a disaster plan.

Warm sea-surface temperatures combined with favorable winds should make this season "well above average," said Colorado State University forecasters Dr. William Gray and Philip Klotzbach. They predict that there will be 15 storms in all, including eight hurricanes and four storms that could reach "major" status with Category 3 winds or higher.

"Those living near the coastline should plan for a hurricane by keeping their insurance up to date, and by having an evacuation plan," said Jeanne Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson for the I.I.I. "In the event of a disaster you may have just minutes to gather your family and important papers and get out of your house, possibly for good. With preparation and practice, you stand the best chance of getting out with what you and your family need, and ending up in a safe place."

To prepare for a hurricane other disasters, the I.I.I. recommends the following six steps:

1. Review Your ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Coverage

• Speak to your agent or company representative to make sure you have enough of the right kind of coverage. You need enough insurance to rebuild your home and to replace all of your personal belongings. If you have made a major alteration or improvement to your home, or you have made significant purchases, notify your insurance agent so that the increased value is reflected in your policy.
• Ask about flood insurance. Flood damage is not covered under standard home insurance policies. ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ is available from the (NFIP) and can be purchased from the same agent or broker who provided your home or renters insurance. Additional information on flood insurance can be found at . Excess flood insurance is also available from some private insurance companies should you need more coverage than the $250,000 for property and $100,000 on contents provided by the NFIP.

2. Arrange Your Evacuation Ahead of Time

• Identify where you can go in the event of an evacuation. Try to have more than one option: the home of a friend or family member in another town; a hotel; or a shelter. Keep the phone numbers and addresses of these locations handy. If you have a pet, you need to identify a location where animals are welcome.
• Map out your primary route and a backup route in case roads are blocked or impassable. Make sure you have a map of the area you are traveling to readily available.
• In case your family members are separated before or during the evacuation, identify a specific place to meet and ask an out-of-town friend or family member to act as a contact person.
• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or local radio or TV stations for evacuation instructions. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.

3. Create a Home Inventory

Create a complete home inventory of your personal property. A home inventory will help you ensure that you have purchased enough insurance to replace your possessions. It can also speed the claims process and substantiate losses for income tax purposes.

To make creating a home inventory easier, the I.I.I. provides free, downloadable software located at . The Know Your Stuff software allows you to add digital photographs of your valuables and save scanned receipts. It can help you organize and list your possessions on your computer, after which you can burn the finished inventory onto a CD-ROM or use the optional secure online storage service, , accessible from the software itself. Be sure to also print out and store a hard copy of your home inventory. Keep a copy with your important documents and a second copy in a safe place outside your home (in a safe-deposit box or an out-of-town friend or family member).

4. Plan What to Take

You may be forced from your home for several days or even weeks. Plan to take essential items, such as medicines, along with "comfort" items such your children's favorite toys or books. In the event of an evacuation, have the following items ready to take with you:

• Medicines, prescriptions and first aid kit
• Bottled water
• Clothing and bedding (sleeping bags, pillows)
• Flashlight, battery-powered radio and extra batteries
• Special items for infants or elderly or disabled family members
• Computer hard drive or laptop
• Photographs
• Pet food and other items for pets (litter boxes, leashes)

5. Gather Important Documents

Keep important documents in a safe place that you can access easily. In the event of an evacuation take the following documents with you:

• ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ policies
• Prescriptions
• Birth and marriage certificates
• Passports
• Drivers license or personal identification
• Social Security cards
• Recent tax returns
• Employment information
• Wills, deeds and recent tax returns
• Stocks, bonds and other negotiable certificates
• Bank, savings and retirement account numbers
• Home inventory

6. Take the Ten-Minute Challenge

Find out if you are ready to evacuate by doing a real-time test. Give yourself just 10 minutes to get your family and belongings into the car and on the road to safety. By planning ahead and practicing, you should be able to gather your family members and pets, along with the most important items they will need, calmly and efficiently, with a minimum of stress and confusion.

For the video news release, go to Ten-Minute Challenge. Reporters who would like a DVC Pro or Beta hard copy contact: Susan Stolov at 301-728-1978 or SusanStolov@WashingtonIndependentProductions.com .

For more information about insurance, go to the .

For more information about planning for a disaster, go to , the I.I.I.'s disaster preparedness Web site.

The I.I.I. is a nonprofit, communications organization supported by the insurance industry.