Hurricane season is here. Are you prepared? You can reduce the risk of hurricanes by understanding the dangers and making sure your family and home are hurricane-ready.
10 Tips to Prepare for a Hurricane
Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, can be devasting so being prepared matters. Use these tips to help you plan and prepare for a hurricane.
- Prepare your home for flooding and wind. Secure items outside, board up windows, keep gutters free of debris, and trim trees close to your home.
- Have a plan to evacuate. Know evacuation routes, where you will go during an evacuation, and how you will get there.
- Pack in advance a bag of personal items you and your family will need if you have to evacuate your home.
- Make sure your car’s gas tank is full.
- Be ready to live without everyday conveniences for a while. Power, gas, water, phone, and internet may go out.
- Stock emergency supplies, including food, water, medicine, flashlights, and batteries. Have at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food and water.
- Keep important documents, such as passports, birth certificates, financial statements, and insurance policies, in a safe, waterproof container to keep them dry and easily accessible.
- Don’t forget about your pets and their needs. Ensure you have a supply of your pet’s food, water, and any medications they need.
- Create a home inventory of all of your items, especially valuables. If you need to file an insurance claim, this will make the process easier.
- Buy flood insurance. Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover losses from flooding caused by hurricanes. Flood insurance takes 30 days to go into effect so if you are thinking about buying it, speak with your insurance agent as soon as possible. Your Zuber agent can provide you with a quote.
Remember, if you are in an area where officials advise or order you to evacuate, do so immediately.