When Mother Nature strikes, it’s good to already have supplies and a plan in place for your family and your home. According to NOAA, the Atlantic hurricane season spans from June 1st through November 30th. When a storm is forecasted, stay up to date with any developments by watching your local news channels. Below are some practical tips that you can take to stay prepared for a hurricane.
Don’t wait until evacuation becomes necessary to have a plan in place for your family. Designate a meeting place in the home and plan out several routes to get to there. If you have pets, be sure to include them in your evacuation plans. Know several different routes that you can use to travel to a safe area. Your evacuation plan should include procedures for turning off utilities in your home before you leave.
In the event that you are forced to evacuate your home, time may be of the essence. Putting together an emergency kit in advance can help you save time if you need to evacuate or shelter in place. Here are some ideas to include:
Additional supplies to consider:
Survey the trees around your home regularly to see if any limbs need to be trimmed. If a storm or high winds are forecasted, store anything inside that could become mobile such as potted plants, umbrellas, and patio furniture. If you have exterior sculptures, make a plan for how you will protect them. You may consider consulting with a conservator to see what protection options might be available for your outdoor sculpture, or you could hire a professional shipping company who has experience with fine art to relocate your sculpture for the time being.
Protect your windows and doors with shutters. Review your insurance policy to see what requirements may be in place for storm shutters.
Move your cars inside of a garage or carport. If time allows, you may want to consider a storage facility away from the forecasted storm area. If you don’t have access to a garage, move your car to higher ground and avoid parking under trees.
Have a waterproof container ready for documents such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, and insurance policy information. Also be sure to include passports and any relevant medical information.
___________________________________________________________________
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Cross Insurance shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, insurance, accounting or other professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article are that of its author and do not necessarily represent the views of Cross Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Cross Insurance”) or Cross Insurance’s management or shareholders.