Good Things for Homeowners to Know in Hurricane Season

We are well into hurricane season which stretches from June to November along the Atlantic seaboard or far eastern region of the United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predict that 2020 is going to have an “extremely active” Atlantic hurricane season. They are forecasting we will see anywhere from 19 to 25 tropical storms bringing in winds of 39 miles per hour or higher. They believe that 7 to 11 of those storms will turn into hurricanes with winds of 74 miles per hour or higher.

The NOAA says that an average hurricane season brings about 12 tropical storms and about 3 to 6 hurricanes. So far there have already been nine named tropical storms, something that doesn’t usually occur until Oct. 4. It is one of the most active seasons seen and forecasted for 22 years. It is encouraged that everyone living in the storm zone to be prepared and vigilant and ready to take action when needed.

Here Are Some Things You Can Do to Prepare for Hurricane Season

Sign Up for Local Alerts and Warnings: add weather alert apps to your phone and have a National Weather Service radio receiver handy.
Be Ready to Evacuate if Needed: Form an emergency evacuation plan that the whole family knows. Have a communication plan to contact family, work, doctors, school, etc.
Know Your Local Hurricane Evacuation Routes.
Have a Place to Evacuate to Lined Up
Know Where the Nearest Emergency Centers Will Be Located
Have Emergency Supply Kits Ready for Every Member of the Home (even pets)
Keep Car Gas Tanks at Least Half-Full at All Times
Keep Basic Emergency Supplies in the Car
Have an Out of State Contact All Household Members Know About
Have a Place to Meet In Case You Get Separated
Pack a Go Bag: this is a bag that you can grab with all things you will need to live on after leaving your home. It should have plenty of clothes, extra meds, toiletries, etc. each person in the family should have their own.

Prepare Your Home for Storm Season

Reinforce or strengthen doors, windows, roofs, and exterior walls against high winds.
Consider putting together a safe room or storm shelter
Bring lightweight objects from the yard inside including patio furniture and garbage cans
Anchor anything in the yard that can’t be brought in
Trim or remove trees that can fall and damage your or the neighbor’s home
Clean out gutters and drains
Install a water alarm and a sump pump with a backup battery
Make sure there are check valves in sewer lines to prevent floodwater backup in your drains.
Have plenty of emergency materials on hand like plywood, sandbags, plastic, and sheeting.
Waterproof the basement

Make Sure Critical Documents are Safe

Place all important papers in a waterproof container including: titles of ownership, medical records, birth certificates, social security number card, legal documents, passports, and your favorite pictures that may not have electronic copies

Having Insurance Ready for Hurricanes

Having the correct form of insurance for harsh weather is critical to aiding in the recovery from the storm. You will need a mix of insurance coverage to ensure you will be taken care of the best way possible. You will want to have flood insurance and wind insurance in addition to your medical, auto, and homeowner’s insurance.

Make sure you know what each policy covers and what the deductible is on each policy
Set aside an emergency fund to cover each deductible and other emergency expenses
Make sure to add the additional living expenses option to your plan should you need to stay in a hotel while your home is repaired
Make a home inventory of valuable and important items as well as the type of finishes you had in your home should they need to be replaced so you can claim them on insurance
Having your home and personal safety prepared for as best as possible will make recovering from harsh storms much smoother.

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