Those of us who have lived in Florida for any given period knows that preparing for hurricane season is super important. Hurricane season goes from June 1st to November 30th this year. According to Weather.com, the 2020 hurricane season is expected to be “More active than usual.” Which is expected to have 18 named storms, 9 hurricanes with 4 of those hurricanes expected to be major. On average we have roughly 13 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes per season. Since it looks like we will have a much more active and stronger hurricane season than average, it is more important than ever to make sure you are prepared for it.
Practical preparedness
Practical preparedness is what you need to make sure you and your family are safe in the event a hurricane does hit your area. These include supplies, plans and anything else you might need in case of a power outage or an evacuation. First and foremost, know your evacuation routes. In case of an evacuation know which direction, you need to go. In Florida, that usually means heading north. However, north may not always be the appropriate evacuation route, so know how to get south, if needed.
Secondly, you will need to stock up on non-perishable supplies. We can break these items into two categories, must-haves, and good-to-haves:
Must-haves:
- Batteries – all varieties
- Candles or lamps
- Flashlights
- 3-5 day supply of drinking water (1 week supply preferable)
- Canned/dried foods that don’t need to be refrigerated or cooked
- First aid supplies
- Prescription drugs
- Radio (battery operated or hand cranked)
Good-to-haves:
- Generator
- Personal protection equipment
- Basic tools
- Power tools
- Materials for home repairs
- Gasoline (stored properly)
Insurance preparedness
There is nothing like a hurricane to get most people thinking about their insurance policies. However, most of the time people think of their property insurance after the hurricane has hit. At that point, it may be too late if you do not have proper coverage. There are some key things you should review with your policies prior to any large storms hitting. Check out our Homeowners insurance guide.
Make sure you understand your coverages and deductibles. Most insurance policies will have a higher deductible for hurricane losses. Review your coverages and make sure that they are enough. If you have a worst-case scenario and your house gets destroyed, make sure that the coverage amount on your policy is adequate to cover a complete rebuild. Check your other structures coverage. Many people overlook this coverage and don’t have enough. This coverage applies to things like sheds, fences, carports, etc. If you need help with understanding your policy and what it covers reach out to claims professional to help walk you through it.
The other thing you want to make sure you do is document your belongings. This can be done in a couple of different ways. You can either take photos of the items or you can do a video of the items. Since most people have a smartphone, it has become much easier to complete this documentation. The reason it is so important to document your belongings is in the event the storm damages these items you have proof that items existed prior to the storm. This helps reduce a lot of potential hurdles with an insurance claim down the road.
Protecting your home
Protecting your home is something most people feel obligated to do. Here are a few things that you can do to help prepare and some things you can do if you are certain a storm is going to hit.
- Trim limbs and branches on trees prevent them from falling off and causing unnecessary damages.
- Check your exterior door and window make sure they are impact-resistant and hurricane proof. Exterior doors should have 3 hinges and at least a 1 inch deadbolt lock.
- Seal exterior windows and wall openings this will help reduce any water intrusion through window seals, stucco cracks, and exterior wall fittings.
- Install storm shutters this will help protect from shattering glass. Many insurance companies also offer discounts for installing storm mitigating equipment.
- Pick up objects in the yard make sure that your yard stays free of any objects that become airborne and cause damage.
- Cover window with plywood be careful drilling into the siding or stucco on your house, you may cause more damage than you’re preventing.
The most important thing is to stay safe during a hurricane. These have been just a few suggestions on how to help stay safe and reduce the damage that may be sustained to your property. No matter how much preparation you may do, a storm will still hit where it wants to hit. If you appear to be in the direct path of a hurricane, please listen to your local officials and evacuate if they are recommending it or have mandated it. Things can be replaced. If you are affected by a hurricane this season make sure you contact a claims professional to help you with your insurance company and make sure you get what you are owed.
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