I'm Lauren Adams, founder and principal architect at Letter Four, a female-led design-build firm in Los Angeles (she/her). While I'm not an older adult, I've spent over 20 years designing homes in Southern California's wildfire zones and specializing in post-fire rebuilds. The 2018-2023 California wildfires weren't just disasters I witnessed—they became my professional focus. Working with families who lost everything changed me. The trauma in clients' eyes when describing watching flames consume their homes stays with you. Most homeowners I work with were drastically underprepared for insurance challenges. Many finded too late that their policies wouldn't cover full rebuilding costs, especially with California's stringent building codes and rising construction costs. My advice: First, implement fire-resistant design elements before disaster strikes—proper defensible space, fire-resistant materials, and compliant landscaping significantly improve insurability. Second, document everything—take detailed photos/videos of your home and possessions, storing them in the cloud. Third, understand your insurance policy limits intimately—most people find they're underinsured only after losing everything.
I'm Sean Zavary, CEO of Greenlight Offer in Houston, Texas (he/him). I experienced Hurricane Harvey in 2017, which devastated our city with unprecedented flooding that caused $125 billion in damages and took 68 lives. Living through Harvey was surreal - watching homes in our community fill with water while only 20% of Houstonians had flood insurance. The feeling of helplessness mixed with gratitude that my family was safe is something I'll never forget. We weren't as prepared as we should have been. Like many Houstonians, we understood flooding was possible but never imagined the scale of Harvey. This experience directly influenced how I approach our real estate business today, as we now help homeowners steer flood-damaged property situations. If I could do things differently, I would have documented everything better for insurance purposes and understood my flood zone designation beforehand. I'd also have created a more comprehensive evacuation plan for my family and business. My advice: First, know your flood zone. Use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center to understand your risk level and get appropriate insurance - don't wait until it's too late. Second, create a detailed home inventory with photos/videos stored in the cloud. Third, establish a clear family communicatuon plan that doesn't rely on cell service, which often fails during disasters. These steps might seem excessive until you're standing in knee-deep water in your living room.
I lived through a pretty intense hurricane back in 2005. It was like nothing I'd ever seen; the wind was howling so loud you'd think it was alive, and the rain was so heavy it felt like buckets being dumped on your head, non-stop. The power was out, the streets were floods... it was scary, the kind of thing that really sticks with you. Honestly, I thought we were ready — we had the usual emergency kit, the canned food, the bottled water. But when it hit, it felt like all that wasn't nearly enough. If I could turn back time, I’d have gotten more portable chargers, more varied foods, and set up better communication plans with my family. My top advice? Always have an evacuation plan that everyone knows by heart. And secondly, keep digital copies of important documents because when everything else is flying around, those little papers are easy to lose. Knowing what to grab quick makes a big difference. Just remember, being over-prepared is way better than wishing you had been.
Profile: Amir Husen, London, UK, he/him, Content Writer,SEO Specialist & Associate at ICS Legal. Experience: In 2017, I faced severe flooding in London from heavy rain. Streets were inundated, homes damaged. It felt chaotic—fear of losing possessions mixed with urgency. Preparedness: I had an emergency kit (food, flashlight) but no evacuation plan, underestimating flood risk. Differently: I'd have mapped evacuation routes and digitized key documents, as some were lost to water. Advice: a) Emergency folder: Keep IDs, insurance, and medical records in a waterproof container for quick access (CDC). b) Evacuation routes: Plan multiple exits to avoid blocked paths, as flooding trapped me. These steps ensure safety and reduce panic.