Be prepared in case of emergency

For days the rain poured down on the Baton Rouge, La., area, and when it was over the devastation was stunning.

More than 60,000 homes damaged or ruined. Tons upon tons of debris. More than a dozen dead. Thousands left homeless and hoping for help.

As I listened to radio interviews with some of the people who had returned to check on their water-logged homes, I was struck by two stories of survival involving working-class families.

The first involved a man who said the flood insurance he thought he had on his homeowner’s policy — the coverage he was counting on to rebuild — had been canceled months earlier by the company. He claimed he had never been notified of the change, and now didn’t know if he could afford to rebuild.

The second interview was with a man who had fled his home with his family as the waters rose.

He left with a plastic bag that contained some cash, medical prescriptions for his kids, emergency telephone numbers and a copy of his homeowner’s policy and the contact number for his agent.

Two snippets from flood survivors, but we can all learn a lot from them — namely, the need to be prepared for the unexpected natural disaster. It’s impossible to know when an emergency will occur, of course, but you can still do a lot to be prepared for it so your family won’t be devastated emotionally and financially.

Fittingly, September is National Preparedness Month, so I’ve compiled some of the best tips that have landed in my email inbox in recent weeks from financial, insurance and government experts on how you and your family can be prepared.

Review your home, auto and other property insurance coverage

Make sure your policy reflects any recent upgrades and improvements, understand your deductibles, and know what is and is not covered. Do you need to boost the coverage on personal belongings?

Many homeowners are now adding coverage for sewer and drain back-ups, which can be relatively inexpensive compared to having to pay the repair and cleanup bill in full.

As standard practice, review your coverage every year at renewal time. This is also the time to prepare a list of your valuables and take pictures. This will make it much easier for reimbursement if you have to file a claim.

Consider flood insurance

A standard homeowner’s policy does not cover flood damage, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Flood policies through the National Flood Insurance Program top out at $350,000 for your home and goods. So you may need supplemental coverage.

Flood coverage is worth considering even if you don’t live in a high-risk flood area. The institute said more than 20 percent of flood insurance claims are paid out to homeowners living in low-to-moderate risk flood zones. Keep important papers handy

If you have insurance documents, medical prescriptions and your insurance agent’s business card scattered around the house, you may not have time to hunt through desk drawers if the floodwaters are rising quickly.

Before leaving, the Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends placing those important documents in a waterproof package or container, along with extra cash. Also consider keeping copies in a safe deposit box.

Don’t forget the pets

If you need to evacuate, don’t leave your pets behind. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends microchipping your pets so they can be identified in case you’re separated. Build an emergency fund

Schedule automatic transfers of money to a savings account after every paycheck. Start with $25 or $50, and get in the habit of not touching that money.

A standard homeowner’s policy does not cover flood damage.