Disasters: A Helping Hand Can Make All the Difference
By Ted Ricasa
No one ever expects disaster to strike, and when it does, few are prepared.
As a homeowner, you want nothing more than to provide a safe and secure shelter for yourself and your loved ones. If a disaster has forced you and those you love out of the safety and comfort of your home, you probably feel scared, angry, and confused.
As difficult as it might be to believe right now, there is hope on the horizon. You can, and will, rebuild your life. There are resources available to disaster victims in their time of crisis, as well as people who are willing to extend helping – and caring – hands. You will get through this difficult time, and you will once again have a place that you can call home.
You Are Not Alone
It is human nature to think of a catastrophic disaster as something that happens to "other people." It is equally human to feel completely alone when such a disaster actually occurs in your life, especially if it affects your home. One moment, you may be watching TV or chatting with your loved ones, and the next you are confronted with the harsh reality that the world as you knew it will never be the same again.
However, you are not alone.
In fact, on average each year in the United States, 6 percent of all homeowners file insurance claims due to fire, flooding, or another disaster, according to the Insurance Information Institute. In 2010 alone, approximately 2.4 million such claims were filed. These claims accounted for $14.1 billion in insured homeowner losses.
While millions of Americans are affected by disasters each year, millions of Americans also rebuild their lives after disasters each year. Whether they reconstruct their homes or start fresh in new homes, these people find the strength to carry on and move toward the prosperous futures they deserve.
So will you.
Home Disasters
Disasters that cause extensive damage to homes can take any number of forms. Fires, floods, and landslides are among the most common, but they can also include:
- Freak accidents, such as a vehicle crashing into a home, a falling tree landing on a roof, or the collapse of essential structures due to termite damage
- Earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters
- Slow and insidious events that cause damage, as is the case with mold and mounting code violations
- Acts of vandalism and terrorism
- Heavy wind and hail
- Burst pipes and other forms of water damage not related to flooding
- Incidents of civil disorder
How can Fast Home Help assist homeowners in their time of need?
The professionals of Fast Home Help offer this website so that you can educate yourself about your options and rights as a homeowner at a time when you may not know where to turn or who to trust. Our foremost priority is to provide you with helpful, non-biased information so that you can make the best possible decisions in your circumstances, whether that means repairing your damaged home or pursuing an alternative option. In everything we do, we always pledge to put people first.
Please feel free to use this website as an information resource or to request a free, no-obligation Property Privacy Audit™; we will never pressure you to work with us or even contact you without your permission. If you do decide that you would like our professional guidance, please take a moment to find out how we can help you, and then contact our real estate professionals today.
In the meanwhile, just remember that you and those you love will get through this.