Are you prepared for a flood, fire or other disaster? Over the past year, many families and businesses throughout the West found out the hard way that they weren’t. But taking just a few steps can help ensure that you not only have adequate coverage for your home or business, but that you have the information you need to file a claim quickly and accurately.

Here are three main things you’ll want to do so that you’re prepared if disaster hits:

Check up on your coverage: If you haven’t met with your insurance agent or contacted your insurance company in a while, it’s probably time to make that call. If you own a home, check to see if you have adequate coverage for your house and belongings. If you’re a business owner, a coverage checkup is always a good idea. Go over all the components of your policies. Check to see if you should consider any additional coverage for floods and earthquakes, which aren’t included in standard homeowner’s and business policies.

Make a list: Do you have a household and/or business inventory? In the event of a disaster, having an inventory handy is invaluable. You can make a room-by-room list of belongings and valuables, including electronics, appliances and furniture. Or you can video record a walk-through of your home or business instead. Don’t forget the garage.

Have a grab-and-go box: Do you have an emergency kit with food, flashlights and other items? You’ll also want to put together a box that contains copies of important documents (like your insurance policies) in the event you need to leave your home or office quickly.

For more tips on how to prepare for disaster, take a look at this checklist.

Hail storms can create a lot of damage. Check out this video of the world’s first indoor hailstorm designed to measure just how destructive they can be:

Warm-weather months are prime time for wildfires. As a homeowner, here’s what you need to know about fires, the possibility of post-fire flooding and your homeowner’s insurance coverage:

Fires are a covered peril. Homeowner’s insurance generally covers all fires, including wildfires, unless the policy holder intentionally sets their home on fire. Policies vary, but any outbuildings or unattached structures on your property may also be covered up to certain limits.

After a fire, floods often follow. Fire-damaged areas are much more susceptible to flooding because of fire-damaged soil and the lack of vegetation. While fires are covered under homeowner’s policies, flooding is not. You must purchase flood insurance for your home to be covered, and there’s typically a 30-day waiting period for all flood policies.

Firebreaks definitely help. Have a lot of trees near you? An empty lot? A forest or park? Clear a natural firebreak between your home and surrounding trees, brush and uncut fields and even a neighbor’s unkempt back yard. Here’s some information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on how to protect yourself and your home, before, during and even after, a wildfire.

Preparation is key. Having a home inventory, emergency kit and an emergency plan are key to making any fire less stressful on your family.

No one wants to be a micromanager. But delegating isn’t as easy as it sounds. Here are some tips for successfully handing off work to your team: