We usually associate that adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” with health care or financial planning. But Benjamin Franklin wrote this now-famous phrase in the 1730s about preventing fires — advising his fellow Philadelphians to get their acts together by cleaning their chimneys, forming a fire brigade, and being more careful when carrying live coals from room to room (what a time!). Slightly reframed, Franklin’s advice is a useful way to think about preparing for natural disasters. Nobody can prevent a hurricane, flash flood, or wildfire — but strategic preparations can make dealing with the aftermath easier. I kept thinking about this while reporting for a new, three-part podcast series about recovery after the LA wildfires. The series features two of my colleagues, Mike Cohen and Gregory Han, whose homes were either destroyed or severely damaged in last January’s Eaton Fire. After an incredibly challenging year of piecing their lives back together, they both have advice that anyone could use for how to prepare for potential calamity. The LA wildfires may feel far removed from you, unfortunate events that happened to other people. Yet this type of disaster could happen to any of us, at any time. Climate change is making natural disasters more intense, frequent, and unpredictable. As I think about my own disaster preparation strategy — my “ounce of prevention” — a few of Mike and Gregory’s lessons stick out as particularly important. Audit your insurance — and make sure you have enough A year out from the fires, it’s abundantly clear how important insurance is for recovery — and how difficult it can make things if you don’t have enough. Both Mike and Gregory told me they wish they’d had bigger homeowners policies. An estimated two out of three homeowners across the country are underinsured. This means that if their homes were destroyed — like Mike’s was — their insurance payout wouldn’t be enough to cover rebuilding costs. Increasing your premiums by a little could save you from potential financial hardship down the line. Check in with your insurance broker annually to make sure you have enough coverage. This is something my husband and I plan to do with our renter’s insurance. Document your stuff After the fires, Mike and Gregory had to provide itemized lists of their destroyed belongings. Mike had lost everything in the fires, so he had to piece together the list referencing Instagram photos and camera rolls. To save yourself this grief, record a video walk-through of your home. Open every drawer, capture brands of expensive items, and include storage areas like the attic or basement. Think through your climate risks, and modify your home accordingly Gregory invested in making his home more resistant to fires by removing trees that were close to his house, regularly clearing out his gutters, and installing custom vents that swell when exposed to extreme heat. Those vents helped keep some of the ash out of his home during the fires. Remember what’s really important (people, not stuff) In the face of a disaster, there’s a lot you can’t control. You may have to get out fast to keep yourself and your family safe, which is the most important thing. To that end, I’m revisiting my family’s evacuation plan and making sure our emergency kit is neatly collected into a few boxes, and that I have extra batteries for things like flashlights and headlamps.
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“When you’re starting over, stuff that feels like you, even small things, can go far — grounding you in the moment, reassuring your senses, restoring a feeling of home,” writes editor Katie Okamoto in a recent edition of our newsletter, The Gift. Here, our experts share some gifts that can bring comfort during times of uncertainty. Thanks for reading. You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.
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