The TV images are indelible: Destroyed homes. Distressed families picking through the rubble. It’s hard not to wonder what you’d do if a tornado or other disaster hit your home.

Certainly a Homeowner’s policy provides comfort and recovery but as with any policy, you must prove your loss.

In the event of a disaster, an insurance company will advance you money immediately and ask you to come up later with proof that the property existed at the time of loss.

Memories are unreliable, so it’s crucial for insureds to keep a record of what they own in a safe place perhaps a safe deposit box or a relatives home in another location.

Videotaping the premises is one good way to create a complete inventory. Swing the camera 360 degrees in each room, and film even the insides of closets and drawers. As you tape, narrate the serial numbers, dates of purchase, and other information.

In lieu of a videotape, a simple paper inventory is far better than nothing after a destructive loss. Be sure to update any inventory every few years.