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These days we’ve seen an influx of people choosing to travel rather than buy material things. It’s about the experiences over physical objects. Usually, choosing a car would result in hours of research, test-driving, and multiple visits to different car lots. You got the car and you’re all set to hit the road, right? Being behind the wheel means you have one final decision to make: what type of auto insurance is right for me? The usual trend is that many will see the cheapest option and go with it just to get it and go. This path is riddled with hazards that may end up costing you more in the end. Take the time to sit down and evaluate which type of auto insurance matches who you are and how you drive.  

How Are You Riding? 

Most of us are given a hand-me-down car when we first get on the road. It’s a little beat up from its long lifetime, but it’s still a great running car. If this is the case you may be straying away from quality insurance, but it’s still important to protect yourself with liability insurance for potential accidents. Do you tend to be protective of your vehicle and want to keep it clean and pristine? Comprehensive insurance may be the best option for you. Comprehensive insurance is a policy that covers all losses that aren’t covered by collision coverage, such as weather-related incidents or vandalism. 

What Are Your Assets? 

Minor car accidents can end up becoming a bigger hassle than originally anticipated. Add a potential physical injury or a possible totaled car for the situation to become a nightmare. Every state is different, and it’s important to read up on your state’s circumstances and laws on handling auto accidents, as you could be held personally responsible for repair and medical costs. What happens if the total is over the state’s minimum liability and you don’t have that type of money? Other assets like your house or complete savings could be at risk in the case of a lawsuit. Umbrella insurance is typically encouraged in case there is a need for any assets to be covered. 

Ride-Share Insurance 

With the increase in popularity of services such as Lyft and Uber, you may be interested in getting a Ride-Share policy. If you are working with one of these companies don’t assume they have insurance to cover you. In actuality, the company’s full coverage doesn’t kick in until the driver is on the way to pick up a passenger or already has passengers in the vehicle. Be wary that if anything does transpire, the rideshare company’s insurance may not cover it. If you plan to work with one of these rideshare companies the best course of action would be to notify your insurance provider immediately. 

Additional Services to Help Ease a Potential Headache 

As the old saying goes, “Better safe than sorry,” and the saying would be correct. You never know when life could throw a curveball your way. If you are someone who worries and is anxious about the next unexpected issue, you may find it beneficial to look into additional small benefits you could add to your current insurance policy. Having this small cushion could save you from a potential fall down the line. Here are some options to consider: 

• Roadside Assistance – If your car breaks down, you won’t have to worry about finding and paying for a tow company to get you out of your current predicament. 
• Rental Car Reimbursement – If your car is in a shop, your insurer will pay for your rental for the time your personal vehicle is unavailable. If you cannot go with a vehicle this addition can save you frustration and expenses.  

Full Glass Coverage – With this benefit, your windshield will be repaired or replaced without spending a penny. Most minimum policies won’t cover cracks or chips in your windshield. 

Ray Silverstein, president of small business advisory group President’s Resource Organization, has said that there are specific benefits that good employees expect out of a job. Entrepreneur published his perspective that while medical insurance is at the top of that list of expectations, business owners should also be intentional about offering employees retirement plans, disability insurance, and life insurance as well. The reality is, only some benefit packages are required by law. These include withholding FICA taxes for the sake of retirement and disability; complying with FMLA; aligning with worker’s compensation requirements; and giving your employees time off for jury duty, military duties, or voting. However, it’s important to see why a great benefits package–including less traditional benefits like flex time–is key to showing your employees they have value. Here’s why.

Employee attainment and retention. 

Randstand US Research has noted that 61 percent of employees would consider accepting a lower salary if the company making the offer had a great benefits package. Forty-two percent of employees would actually consider quitting their current job and accepting a new one elsewhere because they are unhappy with current benefits. An attractive benefits package is basically viewed as a part of a salary offer and can, at times, make up for an annual wage that could be topped elsewhere.

Focus and attention. 

Employees who aren’t worried about finances are employees whose minds won’t wander as much at work. When it comes to long-term financial planning, the difference between feeling focused and committed to the job you have (instead of daydreaming for what position you should pursue next) can be rooted in a healthy 401(k) match, life insurance, or college debt assistance.

Loyalty. 

You want loyalty not just from your customers but also from your employees. Employees who feel seen and understood seem to know that their employer recognizes the number of hours they are putting in, not just in the office but on the telephone at home and during what was supposed to be a lunch break as well. At times, this recognition looks like the benefit of flex time. This may mean permission to head home early on a Friday, or permission to work some days remotely from home. Flex time also recognizes the pull of family circumstances on full time employees. 74 percent of employees say they have missed work due to a family circumstance. Employers who offer benefits communicate that they understand employees are also parents, children of aging parents, and simply “doing life” with people they love who have unexpected needs. 

Overall general health. 

Employees who have a strong health insurance package are more likely to see a physician when health issues arise. Instead of avoiding astronomical bills and giving a potentially treatable problem a chance to snowball, employees with health care plans, co-pays, and reasonable deductibles are less likely to put off important procedures and more likely to seek care when needed. This is where dental and vision insurance also steps in. If the numbers are doable for you as a business owner, you want to communicate to your employees that you fully value their physical and mental well-being.

Did you know that motorcyclists are much more vulnerable to crashes than other drivers? According to NHTSA, there were 5,172 motorcyclists killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes – a decrease of 3 percent from the 5,337 motorcyclists killed in 2016. Motorcycle safety is becoming a growing concern. Of the 5,172 motorcyclists killed in traffic crashes, 94 percent (4,885) were riders and 6 percent (287) were passengers, says NHTSA.

Motorcyclists – How To Stay Safe

NHTSA estimates that helmets saved the lives of 1,872 motorcyclists in 2017. If all motorcyclists had worn helmets, an additional 749 lives could have been saved. An important note is to never buy a used helmet. A used helmet could have issues that are not noticeable on the surface and this could lead to a higher risk while operating a motorcycle. Helmets should not be worn after they have been through a crash. Here are some additional tips to help keep you safe on the road: 

• Avoid riding in poor weather conditions. 
• Remember to position your motorcycle to avoid a driver’s blind spot. 
• Use turn signals for every turn or lane change. 
• Following the speed limits on the road can help lessen the likelihood of a crash occurring. 

• Do not weave in and out of lanes. 

Drivers – How To Be Aware of Motorcyclists

It’s not only up to motorcyclists to be safe and aware while driving on the road. Other drivers need to be aware and cautious when driving on the same road as a motorcyclist. Taking precautions while on the road can help protect yourself and those on motorcycles from being involved in an accident. Here are a few helpful tips to help keep you and others safe: 

• Allow a greater following distance when you are driving behind a motorcyclist.  
• Exercise extra caution at intersections. Most crashes occur when a driver fails to see a motorcyclist while turning. 
• Do not try to share a lane with a motorcycle. Give motorcyclists the full lane width. 

• Always be aware of your blind spots. Motorcyclists tend to be in the blind spots of a vehicle.  

If you would like to learn more about how you can help keep yourself and motorcyclists safe on the road, visit NHTSA. They have more tips and information on motorcycle safety while you are on the road. 

Backyard fun may come at a cost, but that doesn’t mean you should avoid splurge purchases like trampolines and treehouses altogether. Ultimately, it’s a family decision, partly based on feedback from your pediatrician on risk vs. benefit, and partly based on whether your spirit for adventure outweighs your concern for a potential accident. It’s also a decision that could impact you financially, should your children or a guest get hurt on your property.

Trampolines

First, know that when you own a trampoline, it’s impossible for you to file a homeowner’s insurance claim for an injury if it’s an injury sustained by someone who lives in your household. This would become a medical insurance claim instead, and if medical insurance coverage is denied, you’ll be paying out of pocket. Anyone else who is injured on your property would be covered by your homeowner’s insurance–but only if your policy covers trampolines. It’s possible that your policy will only cover injuries if your trampoline has a safety net, is built over a sand pit or wood chips, isn’t being used while wet, isn’t being used by more than one child at a time, etc. You’ll need to know the details of your coverage before you and your children begin to bounce. In some cases, homeowners insurance explicitly denies coverage to any “loss, damage, cost, claim expense, bodily injury, property damage or medical payments” related to trampolines.  This is why it’s important to consult your insurance company before any purchase of a trampoline. If it’s considered enough of a risk, your insurance company could cancel your coverage or refuse to renew, and you’ll need to decide if a change in insurance altogether is worth the trouble. Changing insurance companies would mean a new inspection on your home, so if you’ve got some lingering repairs or potential red-flags that would show up on an inspection, it may be more costly than you expect. 

Treehouses

About 2,800 children per year are injured playing in a treehouse, and most of those injuries fractures, cuts, and bruises that happen when a child either falls or jumps willingly from the treehouse. Similar to trampolines, you’ll have to start with a health insurance claim if someone who lives in your home experiences a fall. If it’s a guest, you’re on the hook for liability. If you want to insure your treehouse in the same way you would insure a gazebo, for example, because it’s an added asset to your home, you’ll need to contact your insurance agent and ask for coverage as an “accessory structure” and be ready to report its full value (or replacement cost). Similarly to acquiring a trampoline, however, you need to speak to your insurance agent about your policy before adding a treehouse to your yard to find out whether the addition will raise your premiums and make sure your policy doesn’t prohibit it explicitly. If not prohibited, make sure your treehouse is named specifically on your policy in order for accidents to be covered. When preparing to communicate with your insurance agent, know that being able to communicate effectively that your treehouse will be built safely will help. For example, you should select a tree that doesn’t need to be pruned, that hasn’t dried out and become fragile. The lower to the ground your plan, the better. Anything over 10 feet in the air is likely to be considered too dangerous. You also may want to research how to use an artificial limb system under the treehouse for basic support. A fence around your yard to keep out uninvited children is also in your best interest. 

In insurance speak, trampolines and treehouses are called an “attractive nuisance” because they are completely attractive to children and yet undesirable to many due to the risk of serious injury. Having either in your backyard is something that must never be hidden from an insurance company. In fact, it must be specifically disclosed, as omission of the information is just as problematic as an out-right lie. The reason is this: should you lose your home to a fire or sustain another type of damage that needs to be covered by your homeowner’s insurance, then your insurer realizes you were dishonest about an “attractive nuisance” in the backyard, the insurer has grounds for denying any claim. The insurer simply has to state that they would have denied you coverage completely had you disclosed your backyard purchase, which means any claim you are trying to file would have never been covered to begin with.

Whether you actually hurt yourself or just suffer from a bruised ego, slipping and falling is always a nasty shock. At home, you can usually just dust yourself off and forget about it, but if you own a business, slips and falls suddenly become much more serious. Maintaining a safe business property for your employees and customers becomes paramount, both to give them a great experience, and to prevent any big insurance claims from knocking at your door. 

Reduce your business’s potential for hazardous slips and falls by implementing these safety tips: 

Secure Stairways and Ramps 

Stay up to date with your city’s local building codes, and install the proper handrails along every stairway and ramp. Even tiny platforms comprised of 1 or 2 steps should have some kind of banister in place. This gives stability to your pedestrians and helps protect you if someone falls in those areas and decides to pursue legal action against you. Also, consider lining your stairs and ramps with a non-slip material. 

Maintain Walkways and Lawn Areas 

Remove obstructions from any walking paths that your employees or customers have to use. It is also important to repair uneven, broken, or bumpy surfaces in the parking lot or on the sidewalk. In the winter, make sure your sprinkler systems are turned off and drained to prevent leaks and icy patches around your establishment. 

Keep Safety in Mind All the Time 

Aside from covering the basics to keep your business up to code, just make it a habit to look for potential slipping/falling hazards located all-around your business.  

• Maintain adequate lighting in all areas where pedestrians will be walking.  

• Keep “Wet Floor” signs in areas where your employees can conveniently access them to warn people away from spills. 
• Repair torn carpet, loose or missing floor tiles, and other flooring materials as soon as you can after they are damaged. 
• If you live in an area with heavy snowfall, establish a snow removal plan for parking lots, sidewalks, and dumpster areas.  
• Keep emergency phone numbers posted in areas where people can see them easily. 
• Stay stocked up on first-aid kits and keep them in plain sight. These emergency resources help you and your staff minimize the damage of a bad fall. 

When an employee or a customer takes a fall at your business, the consequences have the potential to be dire. Prevent them as much as you can by keeping the area clean and maintained. People will be safer and your business will look better for your efforts! Overall, make sure you are protected by a solid insurance policy that will cover your company if someone gets hurt anyway. You can never be too secure!  

The Affordable Care Act allows young adults to avoid high premiums and retain health insurance coverage as a dependent on their parents’ health insurance plans. What age you get the boot and need to insure yourself varies. The ACA states that you lose coverage from your parents’ plans at age 26. Some states, like New Jersey, allow for longer coverage if you’re unmarried and have no dependents yourself. Here’s what to know about growing up and growing into your own medical-meets-financial responsibilities:

1. Start learning the difference between PPO, HMO, HDHP, and POS. Insurance jargon can be intimidating. Long before it’s time to find a plan of your own, become familiar with these terms so you will fully understand your options. Health maintenance organization (HMO) insurance, for example, will restrict what physicians and hospitals you can utilize but may come at a lower cost; you also won’t be looking at high deductibles. For an individual confident he or she will not need health care services within the next year, a high deductible health plan (HDHP) has lower premiums but coverage won’t kick in until you’ve paid, in average, about $1400 (as an individual) on your own.
   

1. As you get closer to age 26, know that getting a job offer will not immediately kick you off your parent’s plan. Beginning in 2014, young adults under age 26 could still choose to stay on a parent’s employer’s health insurance policy even when offered health insurance from their own employers. You also do not have to be living with your parents to fall under their family plan, nor do you have to be a student or be unmarried.
   

1. Once you become “of age,” you may have until the end of the month–or the end of the year–to get moving. Depending on the terms of your parent’s health insurance plan, you won’t necessarily lose coverage the day you turn 26. Some policies will require employers to allow you to remain a dependent until the end of the month in which you turned 26. Other plans may cover you until the end of the year.
   

1. You can choose a plan outside of Open Enrollment. Typically, enrolling in health insurance is only an option during a specific time of the year. When those weeks are over, enrolling ends, and those left uninsured have to wait until the next Open Enrollment to secure a plan. However, there’s a special enrollment period in health insurance for individuals who are experiencing a “life change” that will affect their insurance plans. This includes marriage, having a baby, or losing a former plan. This means your employer will allow you to enroll no matter what time of year it is, but you want to start the process early. If you do not have a health insurance plan available through an employer, you can choose a marketplace plan. Here, the special enrollment period lasts 120 days–60 days before your birthday and 60 days after. If you’re looking for Marketplace coverage, you may also have some paperwork to fill out to confirm you qualify, so it’s never too early to begin this conversation with your insurance broker or agent.
   

1. You don’t want a gap in coverage. If the 120 day window for special enrollment passes and you have failed to secure your own health insurance plan, it could be problematic. You’d find yourself paying in full (no co-pays) and stuck with significant, potentially crushing bills should you have a medical emergency before the next Open Enrollment period.
   

1. If you’re at risk of a gap in coverage, ask for COBRA coverage from your parent’s employer. COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act and is a way to retain coverage for 36 months past your 26th birthday. However, it requires a written letter of request to your parent’s employer. If your parent works for a very small company with few employees, you may also be eligible for state-based temporary health insurance that can similarly serve as a bridge between one form of coverage and another.
   

A person who is financially “literate” knows how to budget, knows how to invest, and knows how to manage long-term finances. In general, you can consider yourself financially literate if…

…you know how to take care of your debt. 

US News & World Report suggests that the wisest strategy for paying off what you owe is to start with your largest debt and pay more than you owe each month. If you receive a bonus at work, put it toward your debt. Stop using credit cards, and remove your auto-saved credit card data from the places you shop online. Dave Ramsey offers another approach. The national household debt in the United States, he says, totals $13.54 trillion. This includes car loans, student loans, and credit cards. Your personal debt, says Ramsey, should never be handled with debt consolidation, dipping into your 401k, home equity loans, or debt settlement. What will work is setting a monthly budget and deciding how every dollar will be spent. He suggests the snowball effect, which means you ignore interest rates and make the minimum payment on every debt except the smallest. Tackle the smallest debt with every extra penny you can spare. When that debt is paid off, move all that monthly spending onto your next smallest debt.  

…you understand interest rates. 

Interest is basically the cost of borrowing someone else’s money or the bonus you get for loaning your money to someone else. If you’re the one borrowing, it means what you owe is going up slowly over time. The lender charges a specific percentage–per year, per month (it depends on the loan)–and it adds up when calculating just how much you are going to pay back in the long-term. You want to keep this in mind when deciding just how quickly to pay the loan off. If you buy a house for $200,000 (with a $20,000 downpayment), and your interest rate is at 4.1 percent, interest will make a difference in your total cost should you take 15 years to pay it off or 30 years. If you can pay it back in 15 years, the total cost of your home, including interest, will end up $261,286. If you take 30 years instead, the added interest will raise the final amount you spent on your home to $333,114. That’s more than $70,000 extra spent simply because you took more time to pay it back. 

…you protect your assets. 

If you’re an entrepreneur, you’ll want an insurance agent on your side to make sure you obtain appropriate business insurance, to make sure your personal assets aren’t at risk of being claimed by your creditors, and to obtain an umbrella policy. If you’re a renter or a homeowner, you need insurance that will step in and protect you financially should your property experience damage or destruction. If you’re a business owner, you may want coverage for work-related vehicle accidents in case an employee has an accident while on the clock, harming someone else or someone else’s property. You also want to learn about planning for how you would pay for being cared for in the event of an injury, or even the effects of aging. Long-term care insurance, for example, can protect your financial assets if you unexpectedly suffer a stroke or begin experiencing symptoms of dementia and you suddenly need to pay for care at a nursing home.

…you know how much money you actually have. 

In an age where we can swipe a credit card and debit card for any purchase, some individually truly do not know how much money they have from one moment to the next. While you don’t necessarily need to switch back to a checkbook with a spending deduction log in the back, you do need a plan for checking in on your spending in real time. This includes budgeting, regularly logging into online banking to check your balances, and knowing whether your credit card bills can actually be covered within your budget at the end of the month. Financial literacy also means knowing what a reliable cushion of cash looks like so you never creep towards that $0 balance in checking, which puts you at risk of additional fees and penalties. 

Feeling the wind as you ride your motorcycle down a winding mountainside can certainly be exhilarating. Riding is an activity that combines mindfulness, adventure, and nature in a way that is uniquely distinct from simply driving a car. Unfortunately, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a motorcyclist who crashes is 30 times more likely to experience a fatal outcome than a motorist who crashes. Here are four ways that bike safety practices create a pleasant experience and don’t compromise on fun. 

A Joy at Any Age 

Motorcycling can be active and thrilling or leisurely and scenic. Regardless of your age, riding your bike can be a wonderful lifelong passion. However, safety measures must be put in place to ensure an injury, or worse, does not prevent you from enjoying your hobby for many years. This means wearing a helmet that meets the DOT, Snell, or ANSI standards of safety. While your head is the most vulnerable part of your body and therefore in need of high-quality protection, it is also important to cover your core and limbs with protective hard materials. Never ride your motorcycle without wearing sturdy closed-toe boots and gloves. 

Customizing Your Gear 

Once you have the appropriate safety gear and protective clothing in mind, you can shop for the best fit and fabric for your needs. This can be an exciting process as you select items that represent you, while also maintaining the appropriate level of protection. Common fabrics for motorcycle jackets, pants, and suits include Kevlar, Cordura, Lycra, leather, thick denim, and more. For warmer weather climates, vent panels may be included in your attire to allow for aerodynamic cooling. Helmets can contain radios and Bluetooth headsets so you can communicate with a passenger or rider in your group. 

Safety Course Completion Discounts 

A big perk that can bring a smile to any biker’s face is the discounts that many dealerships and manufacturers offer for riders who complete their safety and handling course. If you are loyal to a particular brand, or simply wanting to try an updated model, this is a great way to get to know your new bike in a safe environment while receiving a discount. These courses will often teach you about your state’s laws that apply to motorcyclists. Some courses may even teach you how to maneuver and handle your specific bike in potentially dangerous situations. 

Share Your Passion 

If your bike allows for two passengers, this can be an exciting way to travel. Whether it is with your partner, spouse, child, or close friend, you want your loved one to be protected at all times. Any time someone asks to ride along with you, be sure they are also wearing the proper protective gear and clothing. If they do not have even one of the required pieces, tell them you would love to take them on a ride when they can be protected. As the driver, it is your responsibility to communicate safe motorcycle habits to your passengers, and it makes the trip more enjoyable for them as well. Even a tiny pebble or insect can cause extreme pain and damage when you are cruising at 60 miles per hour. You want to share this passion with them, and ensuring they have a safe experience is the best way to help them share your love for the open road.  

The most vital protection for yourself will always be what is protecting you at the moment an accident occurs. Even for those who take every safety precaution, injuries and collisions may still be unavoidable. Make sure you have high-quality motorcycle insurance to protect you as a driver. Speak to your insurance agent about the best possible coverage for your needs and take your joyride with confidence and peace of mind. 

Most people have heard that they should keep inventory of the things they own in their home, but very few actually do. And those that do, rarely have one that is kept up-to-date. The good news is that putting together an inventory isn’t hard. It’s just very time consuming to make a list of everything you own and document what it is worth. However, if anything were to ever happen to your home, you’ll be glad you spent a few hours documenting so you get reimbursed for everything at its worth.  

Why You Need to Take a Home Inventory  

Take a few minutes to try to make a list of your belongings without looking around your house. Would you be willing to bet that you can remember everything in the event of a disaster or burglary? Odds are, you’re going to forget a few things and not get reimbursed for them. If anything were to happen to your home or possessions, a home inventory can help you be fairly compensated for your lost items. In most cases, you can just tell the insurance company that you lost certain things, but if they don’t have a specific model number of the item, you’ll be reimbursed for the cheapest version. A home inventory can also help you decide how much coverage you need. If you find that you don’t have many expensive items, you wouldn’t need as much coverage as you would if you collected a lot of valuable things.  

How to Create Your Home Inventory 

The key to putting together a good inventory of your home is to document thoroughly. It starts with a list. Move from room to room throughout your home to take note of everything you own, including items in your attic, basement, garage, and shed. You can either take pictures of each item, or even better, take video for proof of ownership. While recording the video or taking pictures, just make sure that any serial numbers are visible and that you also record any receipts you still have for the item.  

Aside from the visual inventory, you should also gather other documentation to help the claims process such as:  

• Receipts 
• Credit card statements 
• Other transaction documents 
• Appraisals (include the appraiser’s name and address) 

If you have a receipt to show proof of purchase, you will often be reimbursed for the amount you paid for the item. Also take advantage of apps such as Sortly that you can download to help make taking inventory a little easier. If you want to avoid such technology, you can create your own system by using a spreadsheet to document the item, description of the item, cost, serial/model number, and anything else you think useful. Whichever method you choose, just make sure you scan your receipts in just so you have a backup. Otherwise, if your house catches on fire or other catastrophe happens, those receipts won’t be there when you need them. 

What You Should Keep Track Of 

It would be unreasonable for you to document literally everything you owned down to your toothbrush. That’s why you should start with your most prized and expensive items. Carefully document items such as TVs, DVD players, cameras, furniture, and jewelry. The best way to do this besides taking pictures is by taking video. Start at one end of the house and video everything of importance in detail (make sure model numbers and any receipts you may have are visible) and do a broad video scan of areas such as your cabinets and closet for a general idea of lower priced items you own.  

Once you’ve created your home inventory, make sure to update it as you acquire or get rid of items over time. An outdated inventory won’t be very useful to you if you buy several high-priced items right before disaster strikes your home. The most important thing to remember is that once you make your home inventory, make sure that it is stored or backed up somewhere besides your home, preferably somewhere that can never be destroyed. If you have any questions about what is covered under your insurance policy, give your agent and they’ll be glad to help you out. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports that 40 to 60 percent of small businesses never recover and re-open their doors after a disaster. It is in the best interest of your business to maintain both adequate insurance coverage and a disaster recovery plan so you’re prepared to bounce back when Mother Nature comes calling.  

In 2019, there were 14 major weather climate disasters that totaled community losses exceeding $1 billion in the United States. This included flooding, tornado outbreaks, hail storms, droughts, wildfires, and tropical storms. If you find yourself in need of rebuilding after a similar event, it’s important to:  

Stay on a short timeline. 

If you’re a small business, you’ve got to communicate your closure to customers, employees, and stakeholders, then find a way to re-open within five days if you want to preserve the chance you will still be in business in a year. Penning a plan for a course of action for if your business becomes nonoperational due to disaster is key. This includes a plan to protect assets and access important documents such as insurance policies, hardware inventory including serial numbers, business contracts, and employee records. 

Document all damage. 

Your disaster response plan should indicate which individual within the company is responsible for photographing, videotaping, and documenting physical damage to property to assist with an insurance claim. 

Contact your insurance representative immediately. 

A delay in communication can mean a delay in financial assistance, and a timely reopening is crucial to protecting the odds of your business making it long-term. 

Take advantage of offerings from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA). 

The SBA Office of Disaster Assistance offers low-interest loans for repairing or replacing real estate, inventory, machinery and equipment, and business assets that have been damaged or destroyed in an event that has been declared a disaster. 

Check your air quality. 

Mold can grow anywhere oxygen and moisture are present. If your building hasn’t had the humidity under control for a few days, you haven’t had maintenance services, appliances haven’t been properly vented, or your roof has been leaking, you’ll want to make sure your work environment is safe for employees to return. 

If necessary, move to an alternate location with access to duplicate data. 

It’s more important that you continue operations than it is you wait to re-open operations at your current location. The more contact you can maintain with your customer base and employees, the better. Operating on a virtual server (also known as cloud hosting) or having access to a back-up of all company data off site can make this possible when necessary. This will allow your company data to be accessible from anywhere, rather than only at your original location. 

Communicate your priorities to your employees. 

First and foremost, take care of your people. You want your employees to hear that their safety is of utmost importance, whereas computers and carpet can be replaced. Keep in mind the financial strain a lapse in pay can cause an individual, and work to create a team mentality that despite the current struggle, the goal is to continue operations–or re-open as quickly as possible–for long-term success. The state may provide temporary assistance for employees who need support during the transition.