Document & Insure Your Property Checklist: 14 Items
Make a property inventory and check insurance coverage so disaster losses can be documented more reliably.
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๐ก๏ธ Prepare Before an Emergency
Notes: Save your city or county emergency management contact and follow current instructions.
Save your city or county emergency management contact and follow current instructions.
Notes: Agree on a meeting point or short check-in message; keep contact information private.
Agree on a meeting point or short check-in message; keep contact information private.
Notes: Confirm safe water, medicines, and a charged radio or phone are accessible.
Confirm safe water, medicines, and a charged radio or phone are accessible.
Notes: Record identifying information without exposing sensitive records publicly.
Record identifying information without exposing sensitive records publicly.
Notes: Include receipts or appraisals for high-value items when available.
Include receipts or appraisals for high-value items when available.
Notes: Ask about exclusions and coverage limits.
Ask about exclusions and coverage limits.
Notes: Standard policies may not cover every hazard.
Standard policies may not cover every hazard.
โ ๏ธ Respond Safely When Needed
Notes: Keep access available if the home is inaccessible.
Keep access available if the home is inaccessible.
Notes: Avoid putting full account identifiers in public materials.
Avoid putting full account identifiers in public materials.
Notes: Remove disposed items and note renovations.
Remove disposed items and note renovations.
Notes: Avoid entering damaged buildings just to photograph items.
Avoid entering damaged buildings just to photograph items.
๐ Recover, Maintain & Review
Notes: Prioritize personal safety over claims evidence.
Prioritize personal safety over claims evidence.
Notes: Ask the insurer what documentation is required.
Ask the insurer what documentation is required.
Notes: Adjust protection for changed property values.
Adjust protection for changed property values.
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How to Use This Checklist
Make a property inventory and check insurance coverage so disaster losses can be documented more reliably.
Follow current alerts and instructions from local officials. Hazards, climate, geography, access requirements, and household needs can change which actions are appropriate.
Important Safety and Scope Notes
This practical checklist is an independent, English-language adaptation of the Ready.gov preparedness topic. It does not reproduce FEMA publications and is not endorsed by FEMA or any U.S. government agency.
Use this checklist to organize preparations and recovery tasks. In an active emergency, follow the latest official instructions rather than relying on a static checklist.
Related & Useful Checklists
Open a related checklist for supporting tasks and household planning.
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