Learn how to document, insure and protect your property in the event of an unexpected flood or fire.

You can use helpful, free checklists from Prepareathon   to Document and Insure Your Property and Protect Your Critical Documents and Valuables . By taking pictures of your belongings, you create an inventory of the valuables in your home. The Insurance Information Institute offers a free tool on Know Your Stuff.org , which allows you to create a home inventory with your smartphone, tablet or computer. 

The below tips from Prepareathon's Document and Insure Your Property checklist recommend you document, insure, and protect your property by:

• Creating an inventory of your home or business. A detailed inventory of your property's contents will help you prove the value of what you owned, which could speed your insurance claim processing, and will provide documentation for the tax deductions you can claim.
• Ensuring you have appropriate insurance. Not all insurance policies are the same. Coverage amounts, deductibles, and payment caps can vary significantly. Consult with your insurance professional to be sure your policy is right for you.
• Keeping vital records in a safe place. Store paper copies, or electronic copies on a flash or external hard drive in a waterproof and fireproof box, safe, or bank deposit box.
• Storing policy numbers and contact information nearby. Keep your policy numbers, your insurance professional/company phone number, and claim filing instructions in a secure, convenient location.

For more information, visit Prepareathon , KnowYourStuff.org or download the Know Your Stuff app from the Apple Store or Google Play .

You can now apply or nominate someone for the 2017 FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness (ICP) Awards . Winning an award may help with greater promotion and exposure of your efforts. 

If you have taken action to prepare your community for disasters, here is your chance to receive national recognition for your efforts. Winning a FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Award or honorable mention may help you:

• Expose your program to national media.
• Expand your organization's local, state and federal networks.
• Participate in promotional activities with FEMA such as webinars, social media events, and/or news articles.

To be considered for this year's awards, all applications must be sent to fema-icp-awards@fema.dhs.gov by May 30, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. EDT and feature program activities occurring between January 1, 2016 and May 30, 2017. For more information on how to apply, visit: http://www.ready.gov/preparedness-awards .