(AP) – Deadly storms over the past two weeks have unleashed dozens of tornadoes across the United States, mostly in the South and Midwest, killing at least 63 people and damaging or destroying hundreds of people’s homes.
This year’s early severe weather, especially in the Midwest, is part of a trend seen in recent years, said Bill Bunting, chief of forecast operations at the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma.
“We are entering the time of year when the likelihood of severe weather increases and more of the U.S. is at risk,” Bunting said in an email this week.
An average of 1,200 tornadoes strike the country each year, and the United States is likely to get more killer supercells that spawn tornadoes and hail as the world warms, according to a recent study. study.
That study also warns that the deadly storms will move eastward and strike more often in densely populated southern states such as Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. But tornadoes can happen at any time of the year and have been reported in all 50 states, according to NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory.
What should you do if your home is destroyed or severely damaged, once you are safe?
FOCUS ON YOUR SAFETY
The word people use most often to describe their mindset after a natural disaster is “overwhelmed,” according to the organization United Policyholders, a non-profit organization that advocates for insurance consumers.
“Our basic guideline is to focus first and foremost on the safety of you and your family,” said Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders.
![Tornado damage Glen Allen](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/wpsdlocal6.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/2c/32c225b2-d3ca-11ed-90f2-77c346780a31/642d99caa685a.image.png?resize=150%2C113 150w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/wpsdlocal6.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/2c/32c225b2-d3ca-11ed-90f2-77c346780a31/642d99caa685a.image.png?resize=200%2C150 200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/wpsdlocal6.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/2c/32c225b2-d3ca-11ed-90f2-77c346780a31/642d99caa685a.image.png?resize=225%2C169 225w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/wpsdlocal6.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/2c/32c225b2-d3ca-11ed-90f2-77c346780a31/642d99caa685a.image.png?resize=300%2C226 300w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/wpsdlocal6.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/2c/32c225b2-d3ca-11ed-90f2-77c346780a31/642d99caa685a.image.png?resize=400%2C301 400w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/wpsdlocal6.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/2c/32c225b2-d3ca-11ed-90f2-77c346780a31/642d99caa685a.image.png?resize=540%2C406 540w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/wpsdlocal6.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/2c/32c225b2-d3ca-11ed-90f2-77c346780a31/642d99caa685a.image.png?resize=640%2C481 640w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/wpsdlocal6.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/2c/32c225b2-d3ca-11ed-90f2-77c346780a31/642d99caa685a.image.png?resize=750%2C564 750w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/wpsdlocal6.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/2c/32c225b2-d3ca-11ed-90f2-77c346780a31/642d99caa685a.image.png?resize=990%2C745 990w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/wpsdlocal6.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/2c/32c225b2-d3ca-11ed-90f2-77c346780a31/642d99caa685a.image.png?resize=1021%2C768 1035w)
Debris scattered in and around a creek in Glen Allen, Missouri.
She then recommends photographing and documenting damaged and destroyed property, if possible—without entering seriously damaged buildings—and determining whether further damage can be prevented through the use of tarps, fans, or other methods.
Finding safe and comfortable temporary accommodation and obtaining a copy of your current insurance policy are important next steps. When you’re safe, you’ll have an idea of the extent of the damage to your home, have shelter, and notify your insurance company.
How is your insurance?
Tornado damage is generally covered by homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies. But you’ll want to read your insurance policy to learn what your deductibles are and what’s covered, Bach said. If the damage is minor to moderate, the repair may not cost as much as the deductible in your policy.
“We tell people not to rush and instead take stock and shop around before making a decision,” she said. “Know that you’re being asked (by contractors), and in the first 48 hours, the shock and trauma generally means you’re not in your best decision-making mode.”
For temporary, immediate housing, people often turn to a shelter opened by a local government, the American Red Cross or other organizations.
In addition to providing a place to sleep, water, and meals, Red Cross services — all of which are free — can sometimes include child care, information about disaster-related community resources, and access to emergency responders to assist you in a disaster. recovery.
People may also need to purchase insurance for longer-term housing, rebuilding a home, and/or replacing assets, including vehicles.
Keep receipts for hotel bills, clothing, and meals while displaced, and make notes of the calls you make to insurance companies, including the numbers you call, the people you spoke to, dates and times, and what was said.
STAY PAYMENTS
If your home is temporarily uninhabitable or destroyed, the Red Cross advises to notify utilities and other services so that they can immediately stop billing. Paying insurance premiums and rent or mortgage should be your top priority, according to the Red Cross.
Call any creditors and ask for more time to pay. Most creditors will be willing to work with you, especially if you notify them before a payment is due, according to the Red Cross.
In general, most people have a very steep learning curve after a tornado or other natural disaster because people think that if they have insurance they will be fine.
“But for many people, that’s just one part of getting back to where you were,” Bach said. “Losing a home is a lot like a death in the family.”
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This April 5, 2023 photo shows fallen trees and other debris in Glen Allen, Missouri.
The Red Cross also has a department about it website focused on emotional recovery after a disaster.
“Try to accept whatever reactions you have,” the organization advises on the website. “Look for ways to take it one step at a time and focus on taking care of your disaster-related needs and those of your family.”