Here are the steps to recovery after natural disaster strikes

More than two decades ago, on Oct. 17, 1989, in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay regions of California, an earthquake occurred of magnitude 6.9.

It was referred to as the “Loma Prieta” and was the greatest disaster in San Francisco since the 1906 earthquake. We covered the Loma Prieta for local radio and television news and were in the center of the hardest-hit area only days after the tragedy occurred.

The residents we met were still in a daze.

A couple of years later, in 1991, more than 3,000 homes burned to the ground and hundreds of people died in a blaze known as “The Firestorm” in the hills of Oakland, Calif.

In 2003 a forest fire raged in the mountains near San Diego, Calif., and in its wake thousands of homes were lost forever and good people perished.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans. Thousands of homes were destroyed and families lost loved ones, pets and most of their possessions.

Although, the disasters that we have mentioned are the subject of national news, equally devastating events occur each and every day. House fires, floods, tornados and twisters take their toll and challenge the affected as they strive to make sense of the events and put the pieces back together.

During the tumultuous times that follow such events, one generally does not have the presence of mind to deal with such matters. There are steps to take after a major disaster strikes that could lessen the pain and help one get re-established

First things first. Don’t be in a hurry to get an insurance settlement or rebuild. You have plenty of time. Take care of you and your family. There is trauma, pain and suffering that will last, to some extent, forever. Mend as much of that as you possibly can. No matter how long it takes. Mind and body first.

Organize. Help organize your community and others like you. There is strength in numbers. The folks who work in the local building department may not have been affected by the incident. An organization of survivors can work with city planners and engineers to modify policies so that the “old neighborhood” can be brought back to life.

Hire locally. Use qualified, local architects, designers, engineers and contractors to repair or rebuild your home. Try not to hire from out of town.

Whatever you do, be careful not to hire crews from out of state. Contractors (good and bad) have a habit of moving into an area where a tragedy has occurred. They will borrow (or rent) a local contractor’s license, giving them the right to work in the area.

Unfortunately, when all is said and done, out-of-towners will be out of town and inaccessible. “Come fix my stove.” “Sorry lady, I’m two states away!”

Don’t be like the insurance companies. You deserve to have what you had before, depending on the type of coverage that you actually purchased. By the way, do you clearly understand what kind of coverage you actually have?

Don’t expect the insurance company or your architect or contractor to produce more than what you are legitimately entitled to. Many in the Oakland fire wanted so much more. For example: “I’ll let you build my home if you build a 3,000-square-foot structure for the settlement I got for my old 2,000-square-footer.” You should negotiate wisely, but not foolishly.

This is yet another reason why waiting is important. During emotional trauma you may feel as though the world owes you. You lost everything and now it’s your turn to win. Wait until you are feeling as you did before the loss and then begin the rebuilding process.

What you can do now. We hope you will never have to experience an event such as those we’ve mentioned here. But just in case, be prepared:

•Take photos of everything you own.

Make sure that you note in detail what every photo represents.

Save samples of fabrics from drapes, carpets, tiles, everything.

List all items in your home from carpets to clothing to silverware and appliances to plants and shrubs.

Place the photos, inventory and samples in a safe deposit box.

For tips from James and Morris Carey, go to www.onthehouse.com or call the listener hot line, 800-737-2474, ext. 59. The Careys are also on KRKO (1380-AM) from 6 to 10 a.m. every Saturday.