Every year insurance departments recommend to consumers ways to prepare for various disasters; they may suggest purchasing flood insurance in susceptible areas, suggest ways to mitigate fire hazards, and other suggestions. This year is different; the presence of COVID-19 makes any evacuation more complicated than normal. It will be harder to find places to evacuate to as shelters will fill up faster due to distancing guidelines. In Michigan, those setting up shelters for those currently displaced by floods are recommending people use hand sanitizer every two hours and wipe down surfaces with disinfectant. 

Agents are in a unique position to be able to recommend to their insureds steps to take to keep themselves and their property as safe as possible in case of a severe disaster. However, agents themselves need to prepare for the pending crisis, and also prepare the business. Below are checklists that can be given to anyone in an area at risk of severe situations. 

Wildfires