Develop a Family Safety Plan:
Creating your plan at the start of the hurricane season and discussing it with your family will help you be ready for any hurricane.
Basically, a safety plan is a list of what to do and where to go during an emergency. You should create your plan at the start of the hurricane season and discuss it with your family in order to be ready for any hurricane. If you wait until a hurricane is an actual threat to your area, then you are putting your family in unnecessary risk.
Your hurricane preparedness plan should list the supplies you need to comfortably get you through the hurricane and any after effects. It should detail the things you need to do to secure your home and property. The nearest shelters, their location and contact numbers, along with evacuation routes should be detailed in your list so you have this information when you really need it. Emergency numbers, insurance company contact information, and numbers for family, friends, and coworkers should be listed also.
Developing a hurricane safety plan and discussing it with your family will help you keep calm and be prepared during the dangers of a hurricane. Have an out-of-state family member or a friend to inform and contact in regards to your status before and after a hurricane.
Determine the best ways to secure your home. Make sure you have all needed supplies for installation----check everything! Many people have shutters and plywood from last year but forget to replace damaged screws. Running to the store last minute is something you should not have to do. Have extra screws and tools!
And don’t forget about having your yard in good shape well before a Hurricane Warning is issued. Trimming trees and bagging garden debris needs to be done well in advance. Make sure this is a priority at your home.
A few additional thoughts:
• Consult your insurance companies to make sure your home and car are properly covered. There have been a lot of policy changes. Talk to your agent to make sure you understand all the fine print and know exactly what you are covered for…flood? Windstorm? Mold? What is your deductible and how is it figured? Do you have actual value or replacement value coverage? What if you rent? Also ask how things will be handled should you suffer damage during a storm. Knowing the protocol beforehand will make you feel more relaxed.
• Take photos of your house inside and out. Make sure all your valuables are photographed. If you can keep receipts for big ticket items in a safe dry place all the better. And ask your insurance company for a home inventory form.
• Once you have your insurances all in order, make copies. Have one in your safe deposit box, one in your safe room in a waterproof container, one in your evacuation bag, and send one to a friend or family member out-of-town.
• Do the same with all your important papers---your will, living will, life insurance, mortgage, birth certificates, passports, social security cards, visas, voter’s registration, bills, financial account information and more.
• Talk with your lawyer to make sure all your important papers are up-to-date: your will, living will, durable power of attorney, durable power of attorney for health and more.
• Inspect your home inside and out for any vulnerable areas—cracks, leaks, loose tiles and get them fixed now. Check all the shrubbery around your house, make sure you get them trimmed back well before any hurricane warnings are posted.
• Have a family hurricane pow-wow to make sure each member of the family knows how things will be handled should a hurricane approach. Thoroughly discuss possible evacuation plans. Make sure each member of the family knows who to call or where to go if you become separated during a storm.
