Wildfires in Los Angeles. Tornadoes in the South and Midwest. Flooding in North Carolina. From coast to coast, a wave of extreme weather events over the past year has destroyed homes and upended lives. As the planet gets warmer, it’s essential for home buyers to consider climate vulnerability.

If you already own a home, how can you best protect it from the next weather disaster?

A good place to start is double-checking your insurance policy (hazard insurance is often required when closing on a home). You may also want to make a record of all the items in your home, as most insurance carriers require policyholders to submit comprehensive lists of everything lost in a disaster.