5 Things To Do To Be Prepared For A Hurricane

Florida along with gulf coast states like Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas are highly vulnerable to hurricanes.

Hurricane Irma was a scary reminder of why we need to be prepared for these types of storms. The damage from high force winds and flooding can be life-shattering. Living in a gulf coast, eastern or southern state, it is vital to be prepared for a hurricane. Being prepared in advance will make things much easier for you before, during and after the storm. Therefore, we recommend all our readers, follow these five tips to be prepared for a hurricane.

1. Always Prepare Your Home For A Hurricane

Getting your home ready for a hurricane before a storm hits or evacuating is incredibly important.

2. Before A Hurricane, Copy Records To A Flash Drive

After a hurricane, your home may flood, which easily can ruin papers and important documents. This combination of circumstances will make it difficult for you to access funds or file insurance claims. To be prepared for a hurricane we recommend making a spreadsheet of all your account numbers, banking accounts, and insurance policies. Also, be sure to make digital copies of any birth certificates, Social Security cards, and other important documents. Don't forget to have a digital document with the contact information of family members, close friends, and nearby neighbors, as you may lose cell service and have difficulty charging your phone following a storm.

3. Have A Hurricane Evacuation Plan

Putting roadmaps in each of your vehicles, in case service to your GPS is interrupted, is a great way to be prepared for a hurricane. Determine multiple evacuation routes, as the direction of the storm will dictate your path to safety. Also, keep a “just in case” bag in the trunk of your vehicles that contains a few essentials so you can evacuate quickly if needed.

4. Make Sure You Carry Proper Insurance

Adequate insurance coverage is crucial for people living in areas that are prone to hurricanes. Make sure to go over your homeowners and automobile insurance policies in order to be sure you are prepared for a hurricane, should it damage your property. Consult your insurance agent to see about adding flood insurance - flooding is not covered under a general homeowners insurance policy. Also, check to see if your policy covers rebuilding costs that account for the newest code upgrades.

5. Check Your Roof, Prior To Storm Season

Inspect your roof to make sure it does not have any compromised areas before storm season begins. Waiting until the last minute can add unneeded stress when you have other things to do in order to be prepared for a hurricane. Since this year's season is already underway, try to have your roof inspected as soon as possible. Existing damage to a roof may cause new leaks and water intrusion to occur at a faster rate. These leaks can do serious damage to the interior of a home. Moreover, mold and standing water can jeopardize the health of your family and the resulting remediation services can be quite costly. It is best to keep the phone number of a professional roofing company, such as RIG Roofing saved in your phone and in your digital contacts document. After a hurricane, roofing services are in high demand and are scheduled on a first come, first served basis.

Are you prepared for a hurricane?

Remember these 5 hurricane preparation tips:

For more great tips or to monitor for any active hurricanes, please visit The National Hurricane Center.

The National Hurricane Center