With hurricane season underway, most people are rightly concerned about the dangers that a hurricane poses. However, some people do not take hurricanes seriously enough, placing themselves and their homes at unnecessary risk. Here are seven common mistakes that people make during hurricane season:
- Failing to heed evacuation warnings
- If you get an evacuation warning when a hurricane approaches, you should listen to it and get out as soon as you can. If you wait too long or ignore warnings, you could be stuck in your home as a storm is bearing down on you.
- Failing to secure windows, doors, and other entrances
- You need to make sure that any entrances to your home are secure when a hurricane approaches. This means boarding up windows, putting sandbags under doors (including garage doors) and otherwise making it as difficult as possible for the storm to get into your home. Failing to do so can result in disaster for you and your home.
- Staying close to windows or skylights
- Even when boarded up, windows and skylights are weak points in your home that may be breached by high winds or detritus carried by the storm. Stay away from these in order to avoid unnecessary injury.
- Not stockpiling medication when possible
- Not every medication can be stockpiled before a hurricane hits, but you should try to do so when you can. Otherwise, you may be stuck without access to necessary medications for days or weeks.
- Failing to plan for pets
- Your pets can also be hurt by the storm, just like you and your family can. To ensure they make it through the storm okay, make sure to stockpile on food and other essentials for them, or make sure they are boarded somewhere safe.
- Lighting a fire inside the home
- When the power goes out during a hurricane, many people will resort to gas stoves, candles, and other sources of flame for heat and light. However, these fires can be dangerous if mishandled, and you should avoid lighting fires inside your home whenever possible.
- Going out into flood water
- Even if the water from a storm looks clear, you should assume it isn’t. Flood waters are often contaminated by things like household cleaners, raw sewage, and other chemicals that can make it unsafe to wade through or drink from, so avoid doing so if you can.
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.