9 Steps to Take After a Fire
According to the U.S. Fire Administration of FEMA, on average 1,000 homes catch fire every day. A home fire in Omaha can be devastating to a family. Not only can a family lose everything, but there’s the disruption of normal life, possible guilt, and grief; not to mention the possible loss of loved ones. There is one critical step to take before a fire: have working smoke alarms! There are 9 steps to take after a fire.
According to the Omaha World-Herald, “On the November 11th, a stubborn fire early Friday in southwest Omaha left a large house heavily damaged.”
“The fire was reported about 12:55 a.m. at a home near South 180th and F Streets.”
“Omaha firefighters, who worked in temperatures in the upper teens, still were on the scene six hours later. The cause of the fire was still under investigation, fire officials said Friday.”
“Damage to the 6,200-square-foot home, which is on a 10-acre site, was estimated at $1.04 million, according to the Omaha Fire Department.”
“The home has four bedrooms and five bathrooms and is listed for sale at $1.9 million. It had been for sale for about a year.”
“No one was in the home when the fire broke out, the owner’s son said. Officials said because the home was unoccupied, the fire may have had a good head start before it was reported.”
“Metropolitan Utilities District crews shut off a gas line to the home that may have been feeding the fire, KMTV reported.”
There are 9 steps to take after a fire:
- Be Safe, Be Smart – It is normal to want to enter the house as quickly as possible to see the damage for yourself and retrieve your valuables. Wait until the professionals tell you it is ok.
- Know who to call – It is your responsibility to call your insurance agent. This is a priority. Calling your insurance starts all the paperwork to establish a claim. Call relatives. Call the Red Cross who help families like yours.
- Check Your Family for Shock – a fire is very traumatic. Everyone will process the loss differently. Get immediate help or counseling.
- Establish a home base – One of the 9 steps to take after a fire: try to get back to a normal routine as quickly as possible. You will need temporary housing, clothing, basic bathroom items, medicines, school clothes for children, etc. Be sure to document everything to be reimbursed by your insurance company. You may even need to ask for a draw on your policy for the basics.
- Get a copy of the fire report – A fire report will discuss where in the house the fire occurred, the time of the incident, the date of the incident and the incident number if it comes through a fire department.
- Secure the property – The insurance company will require this.
- Keep track of all your expenses and correspondence regarding your loss. A three-ring binder is a handy way to document the process.
- Coordinate with your insurance company the work needed to restore your home from fire, smoke and water damage.
- Last, many people decide not to live in the house again. They take the cash from the insurance company and move on. However, city ordinances, for safety reasons, require you to repair the house or teae it down
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