After The Fire

Contact a local disaster relief service, such as the American Red Cross, at 904-358-8091, or 1-888-843-5748 for those outside the 904-area code, to get help with immediate needs such as temporary housing, food, medicine, clothing, and other essentials. Do not use e-mail in an emergency. Use the phone. The Salvation Army, at 904-356-8641, also provides similar disaster assistance. 

To prevent looting or further loss, arrange to have the property secured immediately. Most insurance policies require it. If possible, do not remove items before an insurance adjuster arrives. 

Contact your insurance company as soon as possible. Many policies provide funds for emergency lodging and living expenses until you can move back into your home. Keep all receipts. If you are a tenant, contact the owner or the owner's insurance agent. The owner is responsible for preventing further loss to the property, but the owner's insurance, in most cases, will not cover the cost of a tenant's personal belongings. 

 Important documents and identification cards may be destroyed or damaged in a fire or hurricane and should be kept in a safe place, preferably one that is fireproof. If damaged or destroyed, however, these documents may be replaced. Because of the danger of identity theft, it is crucial to report lost or destroyed documents quickly.

Below contains contact information and shows where to find replacement documents.

 
Department of Motor Vehicles http://www.dmv.org/ or
http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/ddl/dlfaqson.html or
http://www.dmv.org/fl-florida/department-motor-vehicles.php 

  State Office of Vital Statistics http://www.doh.state.fl.us/ or, if outside Florida 

 Your broker or the issuing company  

 Your bank, the issuing company, lending institutions soon as possible

  Local cemetery where the burial plot is located 

 Local Social Security Administration office
1-800-772-1213 or
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/mediinfo.htm 

 State Office of Vital Statistics http://www.doh.state.fl.us/ or, if outside Florida 

 Your attorney