What to do after a Fire Burns Down your Home

Having to endure a house fire can be an extremely traumatic experience that turns your whole world upside down.

A fire can destroy almost everything you own, including your personal possessions and memories in a matter of minutes.

The aftermath can be difficult and you may not know what to do next.

These steps can really help you or a loved one get through the difficult times…

Find a safe place to stay for a while. No matter if there is a small amount of damage or a lot; you cannot stay in your own home. Contact friends or family and stay with them, otherwise a B&B or a hotel will be just fine. Organizations such as the local disaster relief should be able to help you find a safe place to stay temporarily.

Contact your insurance company. You will need to file a claim and address your needs. Keep all receipts and records or your expenses and you insurance company should cover them. The shock of having your house burn down can be overwhelming, however when it is safe to do so, return to your property and take photos of the damages to go along with your insurance claim. Your insurance company can hopefully help you secure your property and clean up, restore or replace some of your belongings.

Think about your finances. Even though you’re in the middle of a crisis, you will still need to pay for your house mortgage, make care payments as well as credit card payments. Luckily if you have the right insurance, it should cover your home’s mortgage. Always remember to keep track of your finances, pay what you need to pay and save the rest for rebuilding your life.

Recover your belongings. Any items that have been destroyed in a fire should be covered by your insurance; however losses such as photographs and memories can never be replaced. It is vital that you have an inventory of your possessions, which includes when you bought them and the cost of the item, so your insurance company can make a settlement or replace the item.

Knowing what to do after a fire is an important part of life, you never know when a fire could strike, so do not underestimate the power of it.

If you are ever in an emergency situation and you cannot get hold of the emergency personnel - do not hesitate to push the SOS button on the PatrolMan app. And alert will be send out and help will be immediately summoned to your location.