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Family Living Focus: During Emergencies Beware of Scammers

Gail Gilman, Family Life Consultant, M.Ed., C.F.C.S. and Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota        

The summer storm season is upon.  Unfortunately, with rough weather sometimes comes emergencies and damage to property.  Emergency situations can bring out the best and worst in people.  Following is advice to deal with the latter as well as some important tips about dealing with your utilities in an emergency.

First of all, be very, very aware and cautious of all the schemers and scammers that come out of the woodwork in times of harsh weather.  From regular contractors who get greedy and start price gouging to the out-and-out con artists who will take your money and provide nothing in return, homeowners need to be very vigilant.  Hiring the wrong person can result in additional damage to your property and, worse yet, a significant, even devastating hit on your finances.

Whether you have been unfortunate enough to be in the path of rough weather or not, here are some tips to pay attention to:

Certainly, there are pressures in an emergency situation, but never hire a person or a company unless you take a moment to assure yourself that they are properly licensed and bonded.  You can verify the information with a phone call or a quick check online, and failure to do so could leave you in a dangerous position in terms of liability.

In any kind of emergency, large or small, caused by Mother Nature or caused by you forgetting to shut off the stove, one of the single most important things you need to know is how to shut off any affected utilities.  It is crucially important that you know where all of your utility shutoffs are, and how to operate them.

You need to take the time to:

If you would like more information on During Emergencies Beware of Scammers” contact Gail Gilman, Family Life Consultant, M.Ed., C.F.C.S. and Emeritus University of Minnesota at waldn001@umn.edu.  Be sure to watch for more Family Living Focus™ information in next week’s paper.              

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