Tornado Insurance and Ways to Reduce Tornado Damage

Tornadoes are disasters that occur every year - are you ready if one comes to your neighborhood?

It doesn't take a direct hit on your property to cause damage. A little preparation ahead of time can save you thousands of dollars of repairs and many hours of laborious cleanup.

Be sure you know if your insurance covers tornado damage and how much it will pay.

Eight hundred tornadoes are reported across the United States in an average year. The powerful winds with the driving rain and flying debris often damage homes that are near the center of the tornado. You should have an insurance policy that covers any necessary repairs or even the total cost of rebuilding after a tornado.

If the damage is so severe that you can't live in your home, an adequate insurance, such as Safeco, will also provide living expenses as provided in your policy until you can move back in. You should check your policy to be sure of the coverage that you have.

Review it once each year to be sure that the coverage is still sufficient to completely rebuild at the current costs of construction. You should get a precise estimate from an independent building contractor, and talk with your agent about any unique features of your building and property that require extra coverage.

There are also actions you can take to reduce the damage inflicted by a tornado.

It's not possible to make your home tornado-proof, but you can increase the chance of surviving the extreme winds. For complex jobs, you will need to get professional builders.

Begin at the top of the house, the roof. First fix any damaged areas that need repair. If you are replacing the roof, use materials that are able to withstand high winds. If you are replacing your windows, choose impact-resistant window systems that have a better chance of remaining unbroken during the tornado's high winds. Be sure door frames are anchored solidly to the wall framing. Ensure that there are at least three hinges holding each door and that there is a deadbolt security lock with at least a one-inch bolt to secure the doors against the high winds.

And when you hear that a tornado is coming in your direction, there are emergency steps you can take for the security of yourself and your family.

If you are inside a building, go to an underground shelter if one is available, or at least to an interior room or hallway on the bottom floor. Keep away from windows and corners to avoid flying glass and sharp objects. If you are in a vehicle, get off the road immediately, get out and seek safe shelter; lie flat in a ditch if nothing else is available. Avoid overpasses and bridges as it is not safe to seek shelter beneath them. Most injuries and fatalities are caused by flying debris, so protect your head and neck with your arms.

Ways To Make Extra Money

These days, people all over the world are looking for some ways to make extra money. Here are some ideas that you can try to earn some quick cash, many of which can be done in your spare time:

Have a garage sale. Having a garage sale (also referred to as a yard sale) is a great way to not only make some money but also clean up some space in your house by getting rid of things that you don't need anymore. It's also an excellent way to meet interesting people and create new friendships while you work. Having your own garage sale is also really fun and can be a good learning experience if you ever decide to open your own small business.

Sell on eBay. Selling things on eBay is a lot like having a garage sale, but instead of selling your stuff for a fixed price, people bid on how much they're willing to pay for your items and compete with other buyers, so you'll usually end up making a higher profit than you would at a private sale. You can also benefit from the extra space by selling things that you don't use, and who knows - it may turn out that that lamp in your attic is worth a fortune!

Perform Odd Jobs. There are many odd jobs out there that other people would be willing to pay you to do for them. Some of these include mowing lawns, cleaning gutters, washing cars, walking dogs, and more - You are sure to find someone who is willing to pay you to do pretty much anything if they themselves don't want to do it. This can turn into a lot of extra cash over time, and you may even have fun with your contract work!

Working Online. One thing that many people don't know about is the fact that there are many ways that the average person can make some extra money at home on their computers! Some of these include filling out surveys, writing articles, and even creating your own websites and being paid to put ads on them or selling products from online retailers like Amazon. If you're willing to put the time into learning about creating, maintaining, and promoting your own websites, the amount of money you can make is limitless! But if you don't want to put in that amount of effort, you can still make some extra cash with little time or effort on your part. Searching for "make money online" will give you some great ideas on where to start.

So as you can see, earning extra money in today's economic climate is not only possible - it's also easy and fun! Try some of these ideas, or think of your own - it pays to be inventive! If you have any more helpful ideas on how people can make extra money, please tell the world by adding a comment through the form below. Thanks!