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Preparing for Storm Season
We're in the middle of storm season, and for folks in Greensburg, Kansas, the reality of severe weather is very vivid. It's been just one year since a massive tornado destroyed 95 percent of their city. For those who lost their homes and all their possessions, this has been a year of recovery and rebuilding. And Greensburg is rebuilding. It's a community that's redefining itself after a disaster that could have meant the end of the city.
Before May 4, 2007, Greensburg had about 1,300 households. Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company insured and processed claims for more than 350 households, or about 27 percent of Greensburg households. Now, one year later, about 700 households are still in Greensburg, and while some are living in new homes, many are still in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trailers on the outskirts of town.
"We expected the tornado to hit, but with a storm of this magnitude, I don't think anybody can be prepared," says Donna Greenleaf, a Greensburg resident who lost her home and possessions in the 2007 tornado.
You cannot prepare for a tornado the same way people can prepare for a hurricane. There's no time to tape or board windows, and secure or move outdoor equipment. But there are some things you can do to be prepared in the event of a tornado or severe storm.
One of those things is to have a plan for your family. Decide in advance where you will be safest in your home. That's usually in a basement, under stairs or some other structure that may provide some protection from falling debris, or in a windowless room in the center of the home - perhaps a bathroom.
The home of Randy and Dee Fulton was completely destroyed in the 2007 Greensburg tornado. Randy says, in preparing for storm season, "Check with your insurance agent and make sure you are fully insured and have the proper coverage. We were fortunate. We had the right coverage."
If you haven't checked your coverage in a while, now, before a storm, is the time to do that. As people make home improvements or buy new furnishings or electronic equipment, sometimes they forget that they may also need to increase their coverage. For a free insurance review, visit www.fbfs.com, and click on Agent Locator.
Another way to protect yourself in advance is to have a home inventory. You can make an inventory of your belongings by visiting www.fbfs.com, clicking on personal on the insurance tab, then Property/Homeowners. The Home Inventory is on the right side of the page. You can fill in the inventory, then send it electronically to a relative or friend in another area for safekeeping. A home inventory can help you recall what you owned - things you probably cannot think of in the midst of loss.
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