Hurricane Preparedness: Before the Storm Hits
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, but peak season runs from mid-August to late October. With peak season quickly approaching, Big Bags USA® wants to make sure you're ready for the possibility of a hurricane or tropical storm affecting the area you live in. What steps should you take to prepare your home and your loved ones for a hurricane or tropical storm? Keep reading to learn more about what you can do to be prepared!
Hurricanes can cause damage that can affect you and your family for days. The electricity could go out, your house could become flooded and more. It's important that you have emergency supplies stocked up and ready for any emergency event that could occur. Use this checklist to ensure your emergency kit has all the essentials:
If you live in an area subject to hurricanes and other tropical storm-like weather, you should start working to protect your home long before a tropical weather watch is issued. Here are a few steps that you can take to protect your property from hurricane damage:
Before a storm hits, it's important to make sure your insurance coverage is up-to-date. Even if you do everything you can to protect your home and it's contents, there's still the possibility of some storm damage and you want to make sure you're covered. If you've done anything recently to increase the value of your home, such as a remodel or a big purchase, consult your insurance agent to determine if your coverage limits are still sufficient. Do you have coverage to pay for a hotel room or rental place if your home becomes inhabitable after a hurricane? Do you have flood insurance? Most standard homeowners insurance policies don't cover flood damage. In addition to your home, make sure your auto policy is up-to-date and covers damage caused by water, wind or flying debris from a tropical storm or hurricane. If your car becomes undriveable due to storm damage, does your policy cover the cost of a rental car?
Home Inventory
Keeping an up-to-date home inventory can make filing an insurance claim much easier. In addition to an inventory list on paper, consider using a camera to take pictures or even a video that narrates the details of your personal belongings in each room. There are even some mobile apps out there to help you keep track of your home inventory as well. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when taking inventory of your home:
In the event of a hurricane, you need to be prepared to evacuate. Before the storm hits, consider these steps:
1. Stock Up On Emergency Supplies.
Hurricanes can cause damage that can affect you and your family for days. The electricity could go out, your house could become flooded and more. It's important that you have emergency supplies stocked up and ready for any emergency event that could occur. Use this checklist to ensure your emergency kit has all the essentials:
- Bottled Water (at least 1 gallon per person per day for at least 3 days)
- Three Day Supply of Non-Perishable Foods
- Pet Food
- Manual Can Opener
- Flashlight and Extra Batteries
- Standard First Aid Kit
- Necessary Medications (including glasses and contact lenses)
- Personal Hygiene Products
- Change of Clothes (at least one complete set per person)
- Sleeping Bag or Blanket (one for each person)
- Wrench or Pliers (for turning off utilities if needed)
- Dust Mask (to help filter off contaminated air)
- Plastic Sheeting and Duct Tape (to shelter-in-place)
- Plastic Trash Bags
- NOAA Weather Radio with Tone Alert (and extra batteries)
- Whistle (to signal for help if stranded)
- Maps of the Local Area
- Inverter or Solar Charger (to keep mobile phones charged)
- Cash or Travelers Checks
2. Protect Your Property.
If you live in an area subject to hurricanes and other tropical storm-like weather, you should start working to protect your home long before a tropical weather watch is issued. Here are a few steps that you can take to protect your property from hurricane damage:
- Consider building a "Safe Room" in your home that can withstand high winds and flying debris.
- Install hurricane shutters or have 3/4 in. thick outdoor plywood boards for each window of your home. (Pre-drill holes in the plywood and keep tools for installation nearby.)
- Remove any weak or dead limbs from trees and shrubs to prevent them from becoming projectiles during high winds.
- Talk to your community about investing in flood protection such as Big Bags USA® flood barrier systems. In addition to high winds, flooding caused by hurricanes can result in major damages.
3. Review Your Insurance Policy.
Before a storm hits, it's important to make sure your insurance coverage is up-to-date. Even if you do everything you can to protect your home and it's contents, there's still the possibility of some storm damage and you want to make sure you're covered. If you've done anything recently to increase the value of your home, such as a remodel or a big purchase, consult your insurance agent to determine if your coverage limits are still sufficient. Do you have coverage to pay for a hotel room or rental place if your home becomes inhabitable after a hurricane? Do you have flood insurance? Most standard homeowners insurance policies don't cover flood damage. In addition to your home, make sure your auto policy is up-to-date and covers damage caused by water, wind or flying debris from a tropical storm or hurricane. If your car becomes undriveable due to storm damage, does your policy cover the cost of a rental car?
Home Inventory
Keeping an up-to-date home inventory can make filing an insurance claim much easier. In addition to an inventory list on paper, consider using a camera to take pictures or even a video that narrates the details of your personal belongings in each room. There are even some mobile apps out there to help you keep track of your home inventory as well. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when taking inventory of your home:
- Don't forget the contents of closets, drawers and cabinets.
- Keep all receipts, especially for big items such as jewelry and art. Valuable items may need separate insurance coverage.
- Store your home inventory lists, photographs and video tapes in a waterproof place off the premises.
- Update your home inventory after making any significant purchases.
4. Plan an Evacuation Route
In the event of a hurricane, you need to be prepared to evacuate. Before the storm hits, consider these steps:
- Become familiar with alternate routes in case travel becomes treacherous or traffic becomes too congested. Keep a road map in your car in case you need to devise an alternate route on unfamiliar roads.
- If you don't have a car, make a plan for how you will leave if you need to evacuate. Make plans with family, family, etc. if necessary. In addition, be sure you have a list of emergency contacts handy.
- Have a plan for what you'll do with pets in the event of an evacuation. Will you be able to take them with you? Do you need to make arrangements with family, friends or a local kennel?
- Prepare a bag or file with important papers and keep it with you if a hurricane or other severe weather is in the forecast.
Hurricane Preparedness with Big Bags USA®
Along with hurricanes comes the possibility of major flooding, and therefore, flood damage. You can mitigate that flood damage to your home or business with Big Bags USA® flood control systems. Our flood barriers provide lightening fast flood protection at a fraction of the cost normally associated with rapid deployed systems. For more information on our flood protection systems, give us a call at 800-337-0537.
If you have an immediate need for our systems, or have any questions for us, please Call us Toll Free at 1-800-337-0537 or visit www.BigBagsUSA.com.
If you have an immediate need for our systems, or have any questions for us, please Call us Toll Free at 1-800-337-0537 or visit www.BigBagsUSA.com.
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