Know your coverage and be prepared to report a claim!

by Nicki Hess

We all think we know our property/casualty coverage and how it applies to our district until there is a small claim or a catastrophic claim such as a hurricane, or a devastating fire. While attending a session at the Fund’s Members’ Conference, I realized that having a disaster recovery plan is more than just a plan; you must execute your plan. If you have not rehearsed your disaster recovery plan think about the following tips to make it a successful plan:

• Read your coverage documents and make sure they are available to you in a safe location.
• Assign responsibility in all levels of authority, either internal or external, so you will know who has authority to perform the necessary actions for recovery.
• If your district has backup generators, test the generators to make sure they are working properly.
• Properly secure all playground equipment and outdoor structures in case of hurricane or tornadic weather.
• Documentation is crucial; believe it or not, keep paper and pencils or pens available in each district vehicle.
• Document essential employees’ time and clean-up efforts to report for payroll and Federal assistance funds.
• If you are using a digital camera to record the damage, make sure you have enough batteries and memory sticks for each camera.
• If your district requires disaster assistance, have a list of email addresses or telephone numbers to contact.
• Check out the Federal Emergency Management Assistance (FEMA) Web Site to file for assistance.
• Report the claim to your carrier as soon as possible.

Some thoughtful planning and implementation will keep emergencies at bay. We can’t always stop the emergency from occurring, but we can make a big difference on the impact it has on your district campuses and recovery.