| In the midst of insurance fraud, Texas | | | | make to reduce damage to your property is to |
| homeowners feel helpless after recent hurricane | | | | reinforce the areas where wind may enter your |
| Ike. To avoid this sense of helplessness, it's | | | | home. This process is often referred to as |
| important to both prepare your home, your | | | | retrofitting. There are five main areas of most |
| family and your insurance defense for the worst | | | | homes that have the greatest risk of being |
| The biggest mistake that people make when it | | | | damaged and allowing the destructive forces of a |
| comes to a hurricane is not being prepared. | | | | hurricane to enter your home. These areas are |
| Officials have emphasized that those who intend | | | | the roof, straps, windows or shutters, doors and |
| to stay in area where a hurricane will strike should | | | | garage doors. |
| be prepared to support themselves for a period | | | | The Institiute for Business and Home Safety has |
| of no less than 72 hours. | | | | published A Homeowners Guide to Hurricane |
| This means having sufficient amounts of food, | | | | Retrofit that offers a how-to on how best to |
| water, medicine, fuel, and emergency supplies to | | | | protect your home from the force of a hurricane. |
| keep themselves safe and as comfortable as | | | | Preparing your Insurance |
| possible following a hurricane. It is important to | | | | Make sure you have insurance to cover wind, |
| remember that you should not rely on tap water | | | | flood and any other hurricane damage. Once the |
| for your water needs, as in many cases this | | | | storm has passed and it is safe to explore the |
| water may not be safe to drink or may not be | | | | damage to your home, take pictures of the |
| working at all. | | | | damage and make special note of any damage |
| It is important to also realize that your food | | | | that may be cleared away before the insurance |
| supply must be non-perishable. While this seems | | | | adjuster comes. Millions are facing insurance fraud, |
| like common sense a large number of people | | | | Texas insurance companies are refusing pay-outs |
| depend on perishable food items during the short | | | | on legitimate claims. Do everything you can to |
| period of time immediately following a hurricane. | | | | insure your claim will be recognized, before and |
| Hundreds are taken ill each year after consuming | | | | immediately following the storm. If the insurance |
| food that had unknowing spoiled following a | | | | company will not settle for an appropriate |
| disaster. | | | | amount, find a reputable insurance fraud lawyer to |
| Securing Your Home | | | | help. |
| The most important precaution that you can | | | | |