WHAT IF?

What if I am in a vehicle accident?

• Move to a safe area (if you can).
• Stop your vehicle and get out.
• Check on others involved.
• Call the police to the scene.
• Write down the license plate of the other vehicle involved.
• Document the scene by taking pictures (Before vehicles are moved).
• Do not leave the scene before police arrive.

What if the roadway is flooded?

• Flash floods can come rapidly.
• You may not have warning that a flash flood is approaching.
• Never attempt to drive through a flood that you couldn’t walk through, and be aware that water hides dips in the road. There may be no road at all under the water. Flooding can wash away the entire road surface and a significant amount of ground beneath.
• Just six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars. This depth can cause loss of control or possible stalling as water is sucked into the exhaust or washes into the air intake.
• If negotiating a flooded section of road, drive in the middle where the water will be at its shallowest.
• Consider other drivers. Pass through flooded sections one car at a time. Don’t drive through water against approaching vehicles.
• Many cars will start to float in as little as one foot of water. This can be extremely dangerous because as the wheels lose grip, you lose control.
• Two feet of flowing water can sweep away most vehicles, including large four-wheel drive cars. Don’t try driving through fast-moving water, such as a flooded bridge. Your car could easily be swept away.

What if my vehicle is broken into?

• Call 911.
• Don’t touch anything.
• File a police report.
• File a claim with your car insurance carrier if there’s damage to your vehicle.
• Cancel any/all credit and debit cards that may have been stolen. 

What if my home is burglarized?

• Leave the house and call 911. While most burglars will run the moment they hear you approach, some will hide in your home and could pose an incredible threat to your family’s safety. If you arrive home and think your home has been burglarized, get out immediately.
• Don’t touch anything. Some burglars wear gloves, but not all do. Resist opening jewelry drawers and touching anything inside your home. Fingerprints are powerful prosecutors, but they are delicate and can be easily destroyed. Until police have given you the ok to do so, don’t touch anything. Make police aware if you find something that may belong to the burglar. But, don’t touch it.
• Wait in a safe place. Find shelter in a neighbor’s house, or get back in your car and lock the doors until police arrive. Make note of any unfamiliar people or cars you might see near your home, jotting down physical descriptions and license plates numbers. Often, what seems out of place is, and your seemingly unimportant information could help police track down the criminal.
• Take inventory. You’ll need to make a list of items that were stolen and property that was damaged. You’ll need to provide the list to law enforcement and your insurance company.