Before a storm or wildfire: document your home in 20 minutes

Updated October 20, 2026

When a hurricane, a flood or a wildfire is on the way, there's rarely time for a full inventory. Twenty minutes with your phone can still capture most of what you'd need for a claim. If you don't have time to list everything, the NAIC suggests videotaping or photographing every room, including the basement and garage^[1].

1. Film every room (about 10 minutes)

• Walk through each room with your phone recording. Open closets and cabinets, and pause on anything valuable. Film the outside of the house too^[2].
• Say what things are and roughly what they cost as you go. Later, write down descriptions, including the year, make and model where it matters^[3].
• Don't skip the basement, garage, sheds and outbuildings.

2. Save your documents (about 5 minutes)

• Photograph or scan the essentials: your insurance policies, IDs, and any appraisals or lists of valuable items^[4].
• Store copies where a disaster can't reach them: electronic copies in a secure cloud service, paper copies in a waterproof, fireproof box or with a trusted friend or relative^[4].
• Write down your policy number and your insurer's claims phone number, which may be different from your agent's, and keep them where you can reach them if you have to leave home^[5].

3. Check your coverage (about 5 minutes)

• Flood is usually separate. Most homeowners insurance doesn't cover flood damage, and a new flood policy typically takes 30 days to take effect^[6]. Don't wait for a storm to buy it.
• Hurricane deductibles can be large. In Florida, most policies have a hurricane deductible of 2 to 5 percent of the home's insured value, and insurers typically stop issuing new coverage once a watch or warning is in effect^[5].
• Wildfire can change what's covered. In California, policies typically exclude flooding and mudslides unless a recent wildfire caused them^[7].
• Review your policy once a year, so you know what it covers before you need it^[3].

If you have to leave

Start saving receipts as soon as you go. If your policy includes additional living expenses, it may reimburse costs from a mandatory evacuation, so ask your insurer^[2].

Afterwards: make the full inventory

Twenty minutes captures the essentials. When things are calm again, do a complete walkthrough: see how to record a video home inventory and the room-by-room home inventory checklist.

How ii360 helps

Upload the videos you made, one per room, and ii360 turns them into an itemized inventory, each item with a photo from your video and an estimated replacement cost. Your videos and inventory are stored online, away from your home, and you can download a PDF report whenever you need one.