Be Prepared: Know Your Coverage and Have a Plan

By Nicki Hess

We all think we know our property and liability coverage and how it applies to our district until a catastrophic claim such as a hurricane or a devastating fire forces us to respond. It is important to realize that merely having a disaster recovery plan is not enough – you must be able to execute your plan. Use the following tips to ensure that your disaster recovery plan is a success:

• Read your coverage documents and make sure they are available to you in a safe location
• Assign responsibility at 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 them to make sure they are working properly
• Properly secure all playground equipment and outdoor structures in case of hurricane or tornado
• Documentation is crucial; believe it or not, it is beneficial to have paper and pencils/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 e-mail addresses or telephone numbers to contact
• To file for assistance, access the Federal Emergency Management Assistance (FEMA) Web Site
• Report the claim to your carrier as soon as possible

We cannot always stop an emergency from occurring, but thoughtful planning and effective implementation will make a big difference on how it affects you and your recovery. If you have questions about your coverage, contact the Underwriting Department at 800.482.7276.