Recovery
Experiencing an emergency can be overwhelming and disruptive, but taking clear and informed steps can help ease the transition back to normalcy. Recovery is a process that involves assessing safety, accessing support, and rebuilding your life after the emergency.
Key steps for residents as they navigate the recovery phase are outlined below By following these steps, you can regain stability and resilience while moving forward after an evacuation.
Take an Inventory
You will need to provide a list of lost or damaged items as part of your insurance claim. Review your insurance policy so you understand what items to list. If you had a household inventory or video before the disaster, retrieve it for the insurance adjuster. If you didn’t, or if it was destroyed, ask your insurance agent for a blank inventory form – it can help when recalling what you've lost.
Be sure to prepare a new inventory once you move back in. It may be written, photographed or recorded on tape or video. Keep a copy away from home either in a safety deposit box or with another family member or in a fire and water resistant safe.
Keep All Receipts
Keep a copy of your inventory, all receipts related to living expenses and repairs, permits, inspection forms and any other papers in one place. You may need them for insurance purposes.
Notify Your Mortgage Company
You have a responsibility to tell your mortgage company about the results of the disaster and to keep them informed about what’s being done to restore the property. They may have forms for you to fill out, and they may want to inspect the property. It is to your mutual advantage to work together. This also applies to total loss of other items destroyed (for example, a car with an outstanding loan guarantee).
Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) helps individuals and businesses with insurance questions and concerns. Call 1 844-227-5422.
Contact Property Owner and/or Insurance
If you rent or lease the home, contact the building owner or manager. If your home is unliveable, and you cannot stay with family or friends, you can go to temporary housing arranged by local authorities.
If you are insured, contact your agent, broker or insurance company. Do this as soon as possible to get your claim started. Many policies cover the cost of shelter, food and clothing for the reasonable time needed to repair or rebuild your residency up to policy limits.
Remove valuables and essential items. Do not enter the home until you know it is safe, or have received instructions to enter the area (see "Re-entering Your Home"). Try to retrieve the following items:
- Important legal documents
- Identification
- Vital medicines
- Eyeglasses and hearing aids
- Credit cards
- Cheques
- Insurance policies
- Money
- Jewelry
- Photos and other items of sentimental value (particularly important for children)
Secure the Property
It’s your responsibility to make sure the house is secured against further damage. If you rent, the landlord or property manager should be responsible for this. If you own the home, here’s what to do:
- Board up broken windows and damaged doors
- Cover holes in roof and walls
- In the winter, drain water lines if the house won’t be heated for a while
- Secure your property against unauthorized entry and rodent infestation as best as possible
If you have been evacuated because of the disaster, you will be notified by your local emergency program when it is safe to return to your home to retrieve possessions and assess for any potential damage. Being well prepared and proceeding cautiously will help you stay healthy and avoid injury when you re-enter your home.
If you've experienced one of these emergencies, there are specific considerations for cleaning and re-entering structures.
If your house has been damaged by a natural disaster you will need to look for a reputable contractor to help with repair and restoration.
For more information visit Disaster recovery information for the public - Province of British Columbia.