Henderson Fire
After the Fire is Out - A Guide to Coping with Fire Loss
Securing Your Home
Another consideration is making sure your property is secure and your residence is protected from the elements, the threat of robbery, or vandalism. If your residence is uninhabitable, or you must relocate for any reason (either temporarily or for an extended period) remove your valuables, if possible. Protect salvageable items from further damage from the weather or theft.
If you are the owner of the property involved in the fire, board up broken windows and doors or any other possible means of entry from the outside. There are companies in the Madison area that specialize in fire clean up and building security. Look in the Yellow Pages under “Fire and Water Damage Restoration.” Some insurance policies cover the cost of emergency or temporary repairs to protect your property from further damage and theft.
If it is safe to do so, try to locate the following items:
- driver's licenses, Social Security cards and other identification
- insurance information
- medication information
- eyeglasses, hearing aids or other prosthetic devices
- valuables, such as credit cards, bank books, cash and jewelry