Torch, radio...house deeds? U.S. readies for hurricane season

"WASHINGTON, July 17 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Torch, radio, whistle - all standard fare in a storm survival kit. Now Americans at risk of hurricane damage are being urged to grab their house deeds and check they are valid, too.

Clear proof of ownership, legal experts say, is the key to unlocking vital government aid after a hurricane sweeps through - felling homes, stealing cars and ransacking whole communities.

With the first hurricane of the season already logged, they said people should act now and dig out their deeds to ensure they carry the right name and there are no conflicts looming.

“Rather than being reactive, this is something that can be controlled prior” to a storm, said Nancy Lugo, attorney coordinator with Bay Area Legal Services in Tampa, Florida.

Lugo’s office oversees a Florida programme that connects pro bono attorneys with home owners in 16 counties, helping locals get their paperwork in order before it is too late..."

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