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When Minutes Count, Would You Know What to Do? You'll Find Out When You Take the TEN-MINUTE CHALLENGE

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

NEW YORK, June 21, 2006-In the event of a sudden emergency, you may have just minutes to gather your family and important papers, and get out of your house, possibly for good. Are you prepared? Where would you go? What would you take with you?

Taking the time to map out an evacuation plan ahead of time, will ensure that when a fire, a hurricane or a flood threatens you and your family, you will know how to respond quickly. By planning ahead, you will know exactly where to go, and what your family will need while away from home.

"With preparation and practice, families stand the best chance of getting out with what they need, and ending up in the right place," says Jeanne Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson for the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Information Institute (I.I.I.). "The key is to plan ahead, so your evacuation will be smooth and fast."

The I.I.I. suggests a five-step plan to get your and your family on the road to safety:

1. Arrange Your Evacuation

• Map out your primary route and a backup route in case roads are blocked or impassable.
• Ask an out-of-town friend or family member to act as a contact person in case your family is separated during the evacuation.
• Identify a specific place to meet in case your family members are forced to flee separately.
• Listen to local radio and television reports when disaster threatens. Use travel routes specified by local authorities-don't use shortcuts because certain areas may be impassable or dangerous.

2. 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 will also speed the claims process, and will substantiate losses for income tax purposes.

The I.I.I. has created the Know your Stuff home inventory software, which can be found at . This free, downloadable software helps you organize and list your possessions on your computer and then and burn the finished inventory onto a CD-ROM; you can also print a copy for your records. Whether you do your inventory electronically or on good, old-fashioned notepaper, make sure you keep a copy with your important papers and a second copy in a safe place outside your home (in a safe-deposit box, or with an out-of-town family member or friend).

3. Plan What to Take

• Medicines and prescriptions
• Clothing
• Blankets and toys
• Flashlight and battery-powered radio
• Computer hard drive or laptop
• Photographs
• Pet food

4. Gather Important Financial Documents
Keep important financial 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
• 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

5. Take the Ten-Minute Challenge
To find out if you are ready, do 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, families are able to gather their children 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, Ten-Minute Challenge, click here.

To download our free home inventory software, go to: .

For more information about disaster-preparedness, go to the I.I.I. Web site: .

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