If your not in an area prone to natural disasters then there isn't much to worry about sans a tornado which is really just bad luck. By prone I mean building a house on the beach, or near sea level in a hurricane prone area, or in the case of ashville, chimney rock, along a river in a narrow mountain valley. I'm not victim blaming, only stating the most obvious number one way to avoid catastrophic personal loss.
If you do decide to live there. Make sure your insurance is up to snuff and realize even then you're still going to fight insurance for what youre owed and likely still come up short.
Take pictures of everything. Take a digital SLR camera and take a picture of everything in your home, every room, every closet, every bathroom from multiple angles, open every drawer, open every cabinet, open every closet, every tote, box and bag and take multiple pictures. You'll need them when your asshole insurance company makes you itemize every single thing right down to the can opener in your house for a claim.
Make a list of your irreplaceable items and valuables and their locations. Things that when you leave absolutely have to go with you. Plan for how you're going to pack them and take them with you. You can't take everything and you may have to grab them quick so be efficient.
Know your evac point and route. Where are you going to go, how are you going to get there, how long should it take you. Plan lower popularity routes and leave before everyone else.
At that point you've done all you can do and the rest is up to God and your public adjuster.
If you are there when something happens like a tornado, and lets say your house isnt damaged but you don't have power and water. Let's face it, not many are going to stay in their house for more than a few days without running water, power, etc if they have other options. It's just not a pleasant experience. Clothes get dirty, you'll want a bath, it's probably hot, you can't sleep because of the humidity and bugs. Throw the main so the power doesn't re-energize while you're not there, shutoff the gas, throw everything out of the freezers and refrigerators into the yard, and go get a room somewhere with a Texas roadhouse nearby. Enjoy a beer, a steak, and rest up. Stay with family or friends that have power. No sense suffering when all you have to do is drive a few counties over or to the nearest big town.
