Are You Ready for Hurricane Season?

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

It’s that time of year again when the specter of tropical storms and hurricanes hangs over all our heads here in northeast Florida.  After a 10-year hiatus, the past two years has seen hurricanes Matthew and Irma do unprecedented damage locally.  This year the predictions are for the 2018 hurricane season to be as busy as last year with up to 16 named storms, 7 of which are predicted to become hurricanes.

The reason I remind all Floridians of the potential danger is not to get people to panic.  It’s to get people prepared.  As often as hurricanes find their way to the east coast of Florida, you would think that most Floridians would plan ahead when it came to hurricane preparation.  Sadly, this is not the case.  The majority of families in Florida wait for the last minute to brace for a hurricane.  Sometimes, this results in loss of property or even life.  To help you better prepare for the coming storm season, I have created a list of the top-10 things you need to do before you find out you only have 2-days before the next major storm hits.

     

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

1.      Have an evacuation plan ready – While most people elect to weather the storm in their homes, this can be a serious mistake if you live near the ocean.  Storm surges have been known to rip homes from their foundations.  Boats or other debris have been known to beat coastal homes to pieces.  Even if you don’t live near the beach, those on or near the river could wind up being seriously flooded by a hurricane.  With that in mind, you need to have an evacuation plan ready in case you decide to get out of town in the event a hurricane is bearing down.  The problem that most people face when they try to leave is they wait too long.  Once wind speeds top 50 MPH, bridges close trapping many people in their cars.  As bad as being stuck in your home when the wind is howling and debris is flying around, you don’t want to wind up trying to weather a hurricane in your car.  They are all too easily washed away by flood waters and battered by debris.  The best time to get out of town is 2-days before a storm is due to make landfall.  If you wait until it’s too late you could wind up trapped on the road with no where to go as traffic backs up and gas stations close.

      2.      Create a bug out bag – Another mistake is not to pack provisions that can help you in case you do get stranded on the road.  As bad as getting stuck in your car is, getting stuck with little or no food, water and other amenities is far worse.  Should you get stranded on the road, you could be forced to fend for yourself for several days until the storm passes and help arrives.  With that in mind, you should bring along with you enough non-perishable food and water to get you through 3-days.  Make sure you pack pillows, toiletries, a first aid kit and even a tent if you have one.  Sleeping in a tent beats sleeping in a car hands down

Image courtesy of flickr

      3.      Stock up on provisions now – Speaking of provisions, don’t wait until the parking lot of the local supermarket is packed to bursting to stock up on supplies.  Act now.  Make sure you have a 7-day supply of non-perishable food available well in advance of any major storm.  While most people buy all the bottled water they can get their hands on, another alternative is to fill empty wine bottles with water, then fill your bathtub as a storm draws near.  Since hurricanes usually knock power out, you either need to purchase a generator to keep the fridge running or you need to lay in a supply of ice prior to a major storm.  Also, prepare and stock a cooler the day the storm arrives, since this will give you a couple of days to use up whatever is perishable.  If your kitchen stove is electric, you will either need to do without, or you can use a camp stove or gas grill to cook food once the storm has passed.  (Never use a camp stove indoors.)

      4.      Inspect your home – Another must-do is to inspect your house prior to a storm.  Everything from windows and doors to the roof need to be in tip top condition before the wind starts to howl.  Any loose shingles need to be replaced and cracked window seals repaired before the storm is imminent. If you have storm shutters or are planning on covering your windows with plywood, get these in place before the wind starts to howl.  It’s all too easy to get knocked off a ladder while trying to cover your windows when the wind reaches as little as 10-MPH.

     

Image courtesy of wikimedia

5.      Prepare your defenses – When it comes to defending your home, most people only factor in the wind. Unfortunately, water can do far more damage to your home.  Flooding is the number one cause of storm damage and death.  Whether you live in a flood zone or not, if the rain comes down hard for an extended period, flooding is inevitable.  While sand bags can help, they don’t always prevent floodwater from entering your home.  If your home is likely to flood, you might want to think about moving some of your furniture up to the second floor.  You should also stock up on tarps.

      6.      Do a little gardening – Falling trees and flying limbs can also be a major hazard during and after a storm. The time to cut down old trees and prune sagging limbs is before they fall on your house.  Just as you need to inspect your home prior to a storm, the same needs to be done for your yard.

      7.      Service your generator – While many families own portable generators, unless you service them regularly, they may not work when you need them most.  The last thing you want is for the power to go our and your generator to refuse to start.  The way to prevent this is to service your generator yearly.

      8.      Take stock of your toys – Own a boat or a jet-ski?  If they’re on a trailer that’s kept outside, you need to make sure the vessel is securely tied to the trailer and the trailer is tied off to something the wind and water can’t carry away.  More trailered boats are lost during a storm simply because flood waters carry them off.  Remember, an unsecured watercraft can do a lot of damage to other property, including your own.  Make sure your boats are secured or garaged.

Image courtesy of flickr

      9.      Turn off your electricity – Everyone knows the inconvenience caused if the power goes out for days on end.  What most people don’t understand until it’s too late is that the electrical surge caused when the power comes back on can cause serious damage to expensive electronics.  The solution is to either install a whole house surge suppressor, or simply turn off the power main as soon as the power goes out in your neighborhood      

     10.  Check your insurance coverage – Review your insurance coverage and take the policies with you if you evacuate.  Determine whether you have sufficient coverage in the event your home and/or belongings are damaged during a major storm.  Do not assume your homeowner’s policy covers everything you own from storm damage. Do not assume you don’t need flood insurance just because you don’t live in a flood zone.  Last but not least, don’t run to your insurance agent to increase your coverage when a hurricane is on its way.  You need to make changes to your coverage at least 30-days prior to any storm. The best way to determine if you have sufficient coverage is to talk to your insurance agent now, not when a hurricane is forecast to hit northeast Florida.

Catherine Powell is owner of A Plus All Florida Insurance in Orange Park, Florida.  To find 
about flood and hurricane insurance, go to http://aplusallfloridainsuranceinc.com