NEW YORK – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has developed a checklist to help Hurricane Sandy survivors rebuild smarter, stronger and safer so their homes are protected in future storms.

“We want survivors to plan for the future, to ensure their homes and communities are stronger when the next storm hits,” said Michael F. Byrne, FEMA’s federal coordinating officer.

The checklist can be downloaded at www.fema.gov/SandyNY.

Here are some of the key points on the checklist:

• Know your risk. Review local flood maps to understand the property’s flood risk.
• Develop a plan to protect the property and reduce the impact of flooding. 
• Finalize the plan. Contact local building officials before rebuilding, renovating or retrofitting. Make sure plans meet local and state government requirements.
• Get insurance. The National Flood Insurance Program helps cover costly losses associated with flooding. Visit www.floodsmart.gov.

For more information on New York’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/SandyNY, www.twitter.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy and www.fema.gov/blog.