Hurricane season officially starts on June 1, which is when the risk of a hurricane becomes much greater. However, the time to start preparing for that is now, or else you may get caught unprepared for a major storm. Make sure you follow these steps to ensure you are ready for hurricane season this year:
- Buy nonperishable food and bottled water
- Before hurricane season starts, make sure you are prepared with at least two weeks’ worth of nonperishable food, such as canned goods, as well as two weeks of bottled water. If a hurricane comes, these can help you survive if you become unable to access fresh food or water.
- Have an emergency kit ready to go
- Ideally, you should have an emergency kit ready to grab and go if a hurricane is coming and you need to evacuate. This kit should have everything you need to help survive, including a flashlight, radio, first aid supplies, and extra batteries for any important devices.
- Make sure you have extra medication available, if possible
- If you can, try to have an emergency stash of important medications before hurricane season hits. While this is not always possible, depending on restrictions on your particular type of medication, you should expect to not be able to get a refill on short notice if a hurricane strikes.
- Keep track of important personal documents
- You should make sure important personal documents are available to take with you in the event of an emergency. This may include your will and other estate planning documents, the deed to your house, insurance documents, and anything else that you do not want to lose in a storm.
- Have an evacuation route prepared
- Before hurricane season, make sure you know a potential evacuation route to flee to safety. This means knowing the safest way to get to a shelter, or to get to another safe area where you know you will be able to stay with someone who can put you up until you are able to return home.
- Protect your home against storm damage
- There are a few steps you can take to protect your home against any potential storm damage, even if hurricane season is not yet here. This can include pruning weak branches on your trees, sealing outdoor openings with caulk to prevent rain from getting in, and boarding over windows and glass doors to prevent them from getting broken.
- Check your homeowners insurance policy
- You should make sure your homeowners insurance policy covers damage to your property from a potential hurricane. If it does not, you may need to seek additional coverage to ensure you are protected if a hurricane damages your home.
Anytime your home or other dwelling has been ruined or severely damaged, it is essential that you protect your property and the interest of your investment by enlisting the services of a Rubin and Rosen public adjuster. We can provide the assistance you need by helping you to work through the entire insurance process. If you want to make a property insurance claim and need assistance to obtain fair compensation for your losses, please give us a call at 718-376-6800 or visit our contact page.