Check Your Homeowners Insurance Deductible for Hurricanes

Do you know what a hurricane is? According to Ready.Gov, an affiliate of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a “hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone or severe tropical storm that forms in the southern Atlantic Ocean.” Hurricanes can cause a lot of damages to our properties; they are known to “produce winds exceeding 155 miles per hours as well as tornados and microbursts.” (ready.gov)

We live on the Atlantic area and according to ready.gov; the Atlantic area is subject to hurricanes, experiencing heavy rain and floods. The hurricane season for the Atlantic area is from June to November. You are still in time to prepare, be safe and be insured. (ready.gov)

Hurricanes can cause major rainfalls and flood damages. We need to be prepared for these types of emergencies and make sure you and your family are well insured. Here are some tips from ready.gov that will help you in times of an emergency.

•  To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communication plan.
• Know your surroundings.
•  Learn the elevation level of your property and whether the land is flood-prone. This will help you know how your property will be affected when storm surge or tidal flooding are forecasted.
• Identify levees and dams in your area and determine whether they pose a hazard to you.
•  Learn community hurricane evacuation routes and how to find higher ground. Determine where you would go and how you would get there if you needed to evacuate.
• Make plans to secure your property.
• Cover all of your home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8” marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.
• Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This will reduce roof damage.
• Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.
• Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
• Reinforce your garage doors; if wind enters a garage it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.
• Determine how and where to secure your boat.
• Install a generator for emergencies.
• If in a high-rise building, be prepared to take shelter on or below the 10th floor.
• Consider building a safe room.

Credit to: http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes

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