Be Ready for a Disaster

Disasters happen—a flood, tornado, hurricane, earthquake, fire, hailstorm, or ice storm. You can’t control any of those things. But you can control how prepared you are.

As a real estate investor and financial coach, I’ve seen firsthand how preparation can make the difference between a short setback and a long-term financial crisis. When disaster strikes, the people who recover fastest aren’t the luckiest—they’re the most ready.

Here are ten things you can do today to protect your home, your rental properties, and your peace of mind.

1. Read Your Insurance Policies

Before a disaster ever happens, take time to really understand what your insurance covers. Most people assume their policy includes certain protections, only to find out after a flood or storm that it doesn’t.

• Does your homeowner’s or landlord policy cover replacement cost or actual cash value?

• Are natural disasters, floods, or earthquakes excluded?

• How much is your deductible—and could you afford it today?

Call your insurance agent and ask them to walk through the details with you. Knowledge today prevents heartache later. 🧑‍💻

2. Take a Full Video Inventory

Walk through your entire home (and each rental property) with your phone camera. Record every room, every closet, every drawer.

This simple step can save you weeks of frustration during an insurance claim. When you can show exactly what was lost, you’ll have faster reimbursement and fewer disputes. 📹

3. Store the Video Safely Online

After recording, upload your video to a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox. Name it something easy to find—like “Home Inventory 2025” or “Rental Property Inventory.”

That way, if your home computer or phone is damaged, your files will still be safe and accessible. 💻

4. Create an Emergency Kit and “Go Bag”

Preparation isn’t just financial—it’s physical too. Put together an emergency kit with:

• Bottled water

• Non-perishable food

• First aid supplies (bandages, antiseptic, pain relievers)

• Flashlight and extra batteries

• A small radio

Store it somewhere safe and dry. Then pack a “go bag” with cash, a few days’ worth of clothes, copies of important documents, and essentials you’d need if you had to leave quickly. 🔦

5. Build an Emergency Savings Account

Create a separate account—completely separate from your everyday savings—that’s only for disaster recovery. Even setting aside a small amount each month adds up over time. When something unexpected happens, you’ll have quick access to cash instead of relying on high-interest credit cards. 🔐💰

6. Digitize Your Important Documents

Scan and store electronic copies of vital documents: insurance policies, property deeds, birth certificates, passports, titles, and medical information. Keep digital copies on a secure cloud drive and a password-protected external hard drive.

If your paper copies are destroyed, you’ll still have what you need to prove ownership and identity. 📁

7. Review Your Property Management Plan

If you own rental properties, make sure your tenants know what to do in an emergency. Provide them with:

• The fastest way to reach you or your property manager

• Emergency shut-off locations for gas, water, and electricity

• Evacuation instructions and local shelter information

Prepared tenants protect your investment and help prevent small issues from becoming big ones. 🏠

8. Create a Family Communication Plan

In the middle of a crisis, phone lines may be down, and texts might not go through. Establish a plan now so everyone knows:

• Where to meet if separated

• Who to call outside the area for updates

• How to access shared documents and emergency info

Practice the plan with your family so it’s second nature when it matters most. 📞

9. Backup Your Financial Information

Disasters can interrupt your ability to access banks or online accounts.

• Set up automatic backups for accounting software, investment platforms, and business records.

• Keep a printed list of your account numbers, loan info, and customer service numbers in a secure, waterproof folder.

This step keeps your financial life from grinding to a halt during recovery. 💳

10. Do a “Preparedness Checkup” Every Year

Preparedness isn’t one-and-done—it’s ongoing. Pick a date each year (like the first week of spring) to review your insurance, update your videos, replace expired food or batteries in your kit, and top off your emergency fund.

Make it a family or team event. The more you review and refresh your plan, the calmer and more confident you’ll feel when life surprises you. 🔄

The Bottom Line

Prepared people recover faster. Whether you own one home or ten rental properties, these simple steps can help you protect what you’ve worked so hard for.

You don’t need to do it all at once. Just start with one step today—and you’ll already be ahead of most people.

You can’t control the weather, but you can control how ready you are when it changes.