Although Nebraska isn’t known as an environment with frequent natural disasters, it does lie in Tornado Alley and can experience earthquakes and floods. In addition to increasing your insurance coverage, learn how to prepare yourself and your family for such an emergency. Below are steps you can take for floods, tornadoes, and earthquakes.

3 Natural Disasters & Ways to Prepare for Them

1. Floods

Floods occur when it rains enough that the ground becomes saturated and river waters rise and traverse open ground. First, find out if you live in a flood plain. Elevate electrical components to prevent electrocution or shock, and move expensive or fragile furniture — or any items that could be damaged by water — to upper floors. Most home insurance policies exclude damage caused by flooding, so purchase separate flood insurance.

2. Tornadoes

Tornadoes are powerful, violent windstorms that can reach wind speeds of 300 miles per hour. To prepare your home and family for such a storm, find the nearest evacuation center, which is often a nearby school or community center with stout walls and room for a crowd. Also, identify the safest room in your house, like the basement or a small, windowless, interior room on the ground floor. Pack important documents — birth certificates, social security cards, etc. — into a portable file or a heavy, durable safe.

3. Earthquakes

Nebraska has suffered nearly 50 earthquakes since 1975, with four in one week occurring in 2018. Include battery- or crank-powered flashlights and radios in your prep kit, in case the electricity fails. Also, include a first aid kit to treat injuries and enough nonperishable food and water to last at least three days. Teach family members to lay on the floor along an interior wall and protect their heads and necks from falling debris. Show them how to signal their presence if they become trapped in the rubble: Rap three times in quick succession, wait a beat, and repeat. This will alert rescuers searching for trapped survivors.

To beef up your home or auto insurance in preparation for a storm, flood, or another disaster, contact Accredited Insurance Group in Omaha, NE. They are family-owned and -operated and have protected Douglas County residents for more than 25 years. They’re a one-stop shop for nearly any type of coverage, specializing in auto, motorcycle, RV, renters, and home insurance. Visit their website to learn more or call (402) 334-1780 to request a free quote.