Before An Emergency, Take Time To Document Your Household Contents

By Nancy K. Crevier

Wildfires in the West, tornadoes in the Midwest, and hurricanes in the South remind people that nature can swiftly wreak havoc on homes, property, and possessions. Realty can quickly be reduced to cinders and mementos melted into mere memories by merciless fires, as has happened recently in California.

Losing shelter and possessions is anguish enough, but if household possessions are not accurately documented, recouping losses through insurance may be additionally painful.

Newtown Fire Marshal Bill Halstead has attended several classes and seminars in which insurance companies have stressed the importance of having a complete inventory of possessions and important papers in order to file an insurance claim when disaster strikes.

“I’ve heard of settlements being held up because homeowners can’t provide documentation,” said Mr Halstead. “You look around and think, ‘I’ve got this and I’ve got this,’ but in an emergency are you really going to remember? You’re devastated by the loss and then trying to put it all down on paper. It’s very difficult,” he said.

As fire marshal for the town and chief of Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company, Mr Halstead has witnessed many fires that have left homeowners digging through the rubble. “You see how long it takes to get a house rebuilt,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot sit for a year, and you have to wonder if the settlement is held up because of documentation problems with the insurance company.”

Not only homeowners, but businesses and organizations can fall victim to disasters that cause loss, said Mr Halstead.

“I have asked the Board of Fire Commissioners to include funding in the July budget to do an accurate inventory of the fire departments, as a matter of fact,” said Mr Halstead. “We have a huge amount of stuff, and not just fire equipment. When you include the computers, the desks, the chairs, it’s a lot of stuff that would need to be replaced.” Up to 25 sets of turnout gear are often stored in the Sandy Hook Firehouse alone, he said, and when the cost of pants, jackets, boots, helmets, gloves, hoods, and masks is added up, each set of gear easily reaches the $2,500 mark.

“Insurance companies really do stress the importance of accurate inventory,” Mr Halstead reiterated. “You want to get what you deserve.”

Creating an inventory of even the smallest household can be a daunting task. The University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System offers suggestions for recording important information.

Recordkeeping books may be available from insurance companies, to begin the task, or use a notebook. For each room of the house, list all of the property, including contents of drawers and cabinets. If receipts are available, attach them to the notebook, and get appraisals for any items of value.

A digital or video camera to record inventory is also useful. List the value of each item on the back of the photograph, or talk your way through each room with the video camera. The exterior of the home, landscaping, outdoor sheds and furniture, cars, and boats should also be included in an inventory.

Once the information is recorded, store it in a safe place — but not in the home. A safe deposit box is a good bet, but because banks are not immune to destruction in a town-wide disaster, sending the information to a trusted out-of-state relative is a better option.

Copies of important papers should be included in the inventory packet and stored in a secure place to protect from identity theft.

To get a start on the chore, a publication called Record of Important Household Papers from the UConn Cooperative Extension System can be ordered by sending $1.50 to University of Connecticut CIT, Unit 35, 1376 Storrs Road, Storrs CT 06269-4035.

Documenting the contents of a lifetime can be a time-consuming task, but should the need arise to provide that information to recover costs after a catastrophe, it will be time that was well spent.