May is National Wildfire Awareness Month, a good reminder that fast-moving emergencies don’t wait. Whether it’s a wildfire in the West, a tornado in the Midwest, or a sudden house fire anywhere, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends every household be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. The question is: would yours be?
Most people assume they’d know exactly what to do. In reality, high-stress situations make decision-making harder, not easier. That’s why FEMA encourages households to practice their evacuation plans in advance. Walking through the scenario now, before it’s real, helps you find the gaps before they matter.
Begin with what would be hardest to replace or most important in the short term, keeping items like these close at hand:
- Identification (driver’s licenses, passports)
- Insurance policies and other important documents
- Medications and medical supplies
- Wallet, keys, and mobile devices
- A few days’ worth of clothing
Storing these in one place, or securely in the cloud when possible, saves precious time.
Build a Simple Go-Bag
A go-bag doesn’t need to be elaborate. A small backpack or tote near an entryway will do. A basic kit might include:
- Bottled water and nonperishable snacks
- Phone chargers or backup batteries
- A flashlight and extra batteries
- Basic toiletries
- A printed list of emergency contacts
Document What You Own
This is the step most homeowners skip, and it matters more than people realize. When a claim is filed after a disaster, having a clear record of what was in your home can be the difference between a smooth process and a drawn-out one. Memory alone won’t be enough. After a fire, flood, or evacuation, you’ll be asked to prove what you owned and what it was worth.
A home inventory doesn’t have to be complicated. A short phone video walkthrough of each room, narrating as you go, captures the bulk of it. Add individual photos of high-value items, such as jewelry, electronics, appliances, artwork, and store receipts or appraisals securely in the cloud. Doing this on a calm Saturday afternoon is vastly easier than trying to remember every detail after the fact.
Practice Your Plan
Practice your evacuation plan often, with at least two ways out of your neighborhood. Once your essentials are gathered, walk through the plan with everyone in your household. See how quickly you could actually grab what matters and get out the door. This simple exercise will reveal what’s missing, what’s hard to find, and what could be simplified.
A clear evacuation plan and a home inventory do their best work when they’re backed by the right insurance coverage. Many homeowners are surprised to find their policy no longer reflects what they actually own. New furniture, renovations, electronics, jewelry, or a home office can all affect what should be covered.
A Westwood agent can review your current homeowners coverage, and flag any gaps. Contact your Westwood agent to schedule a coverage review.
Please note: This article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not represent any specific insurance policy and does not modify any provisions, limitations, or exclusions of any current policy.
