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The recent fires in California and hurricanes in Florida should give us all the evidence we need to get our homes and our family prepared for a disaster like so many others have experienced.

We all know that disasters seldom give us much notice, if any, which is all the more reason to get a basic plan of action in place now.  Regardless of the type of disaster, here are some ideas to consider:

1.   Have enough cash on hand to handle emergency purchases.  If electricity goes off in the entire area, ATM's may not work.

2.   Back up all your computer files on CD's or an off-site storage site that is accessible via the internet.

3.   Make copies of difficult to replace documents such as wills, powers of attorney, employment contracts and other legal agreements.

4.   Have a plan in place on how you'll continue to work and produce income should your home office or off-site office is destroyed. 

5.   Make sure you have photo evidence of the interior and exterior of your home, as well as photos of all your personal property so you'll be better prepared to deal with your insurance company.

6.   Review your insurance policies annually to make sure they reflect your needs and circumstances for today. 

7.   If you have advance notice of the disaster (eg. hurricane, etc.) take time to cover your equipment, furniture, etc. after moving it to the upper-most floor.  This could prevent water damage from rather minor structural damage such as broken windows or missing roofing shingles.