Tips on Preparing for Hurricanes

Preparing for Hurricanes

Living anywhere between Florida and Maine on the Atlantic Coast puts you and your home in the direct path of hurricanes. These tropical storms that begin when winds pass 60mph are notorious for causing widespread damage, flooding and property destruction. Though forecasters have gotten much better at predicting hurricanes and alerting residents when a warning is in effect, these natural disasters still have the ability to wreak havoc in a very short period of time. As a homeowner, you want to be prepared for these storms in advance by having an emergency plan for your family, evacuation routes and disaster supplies that will help you survive a hurricane and the aftermath.

Have Emergency Supplies – Hurricanes, even Category 1 storms, have the ability to knock out power for days and sometimes weeks at a time. If you live in an area that experiences hurricanes and tropical storms it is imperative that you have a disaster kit prepared that will include essential survival supplies including: purified drinking water, flashlights and batteries, a fully charged cell phone, a crank radio, food bars and warm clothing. All of this should be kept in a secure safety cabinet or at least wrapped securely in waterproof bags or containers.

Inspect your Home – When a hurricane warning is issued it will be very hard to get a contractor out to your place for roof and siding repairs. However, as a homeowner it is in your best interest to take a tour of your home and look for anything that may cause serious problems when the wind starts to kick up. Look for any defects with your gutters, roofing and siding that may pose a problem during the storm. There are some precautionary measures you can take to shore up tears and cracks but remember where these areas are and when the storm has passed check for damage and if necessary contact a general contractor for repair work.

Do you have Flood Insurance - Unfortunately many homeowners learn the hard way that their homeowner's policy did not include flood insurance. Many people think that wind is the most damaging part of a hurricane but as Super Storm Sandy and Hurricane Katrina have proven, it is actually flood waters that cause the most damage to homes and property. If you do not have flood insurance don't try to apply for it the week of a hurricane warning. Rarely will any insurance company write a policy when disaster is imminent. Contact your local insurance agent and review your homeowner policy well in advance to review flood insurance.

For more information on home insurance in Connecticut, call: 1-866-479-3327