Did you know May 9-15 is Hurricane Preparedness Week? We want to help you prepare for the upcoming June-November hurricane season. These helpful tips will ensure you are optimally prepared incase of an emergency.
Your Hurricane Preparedness Checklist:
- Know your Hurricane risk. Find out how rain, wind, and water could affect where you live.
- Make an emergency plan. Be sure to include all family members in your plan and account for office or childcare matters.
- Know your evacuation zone. Learn your evacuation routes, practice your procedure, and plan where you will stay.
- Recognize warnings and alerts. Set up several ways to receive alerts. FEMA has a free app you can download to receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service!
- Review important documents. Don’t wait until after you have a loss to check your insurance. Review your homeowners or renter’s policies and personal documents, and make sure your ID is up to date. For extra precaution, make copies and keep them in a secure digital space.
- Strengthen your home. Declutter drains and gutters and bring outside furniture inside. Consider hurricane shutters for strong winds.
- Get tech ready. Keep your cell phone charged and have back up charging devices to power electronics.
- Gather supplies. Put together your Hurricane Prep Kit:
- Water (1 gallon per person per day for several days)
- Food (at least a 3-day supply of non-perishables)
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Flashlight
- First-aid kit (and any prescription medications)
- Extra batteries
- Whistle (to signal for help)
- Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape (for shelter in place)
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
- Wrench or pliers
- Local maps
- Cell phone with charger and back up battery
Hurricanes are dangerous and can cause major damage because of storm surge, wind damage, and flooding. They can happen along any U.S. coast or in any territory in the Atlantic or Pacific oceans. Storm surge is historically the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths in the United States. Don’t wait until it’s too late! Call us to speak with an experienced agent about the policies that can prepare you for a disaster.