Has your home just been hit by a tornado or hurricane? Or did a big storm come through, causing the local riverbanks to flood, leaving your home in several inches or feet of water? No matter what the disaster is, you can get through it! Let these tips help give you some direction for how to proceed during this challenging time.

Assess the Damage

After you’ve ensured your family and loved ones are safe from whatever disaster has struck, it’s important that you take a few deep breaths. Calm yourself as much as possible so you are better able to truly get a handle on the amount of damage you now need to address. Walk through your property, if possible to do so safely, and take as many pictures as you can.

Call the Insurance Company

As soon as you’ve taken initial assessments, it’s important for you to call your insurance company. They will need to send an assessor out to determine the scope of damage and what they will be willing to cover. They may even be able to recommend an emergency disaster restoration company that can help take care of whatever work needs to be done around your home. The insurance company will likely encourage you to begin work immediately so the damage can be minimized, as if you wait too long, conditions may continue to deteriorate.

Begin Work

Once you’ve been seen by your insurance company, you can begin the rebuilding process. It’s possible you will be able to do the work on your own, or with the help of family, neighbors, or friends. You may, however, need assistance. Don’t be afraid to reach out to nonprofit organizations that specialize in helping victims of disasters. You can also call professionals to come help in whatever capacity they can; it’s recommended you use professionals for any specialized work, like plumbing, electrical, and HVAC.

If your home has been affected by a disaster, it’s important to assess the damage, call your insurance company, and carefully begin the rebuilding phase.