The risk of hurricanes has increased in recent times due to several factors related to climate change. The gradual rise in the overall temperature of the earth’s atmosphere, also known as global warming, has led to warmer sea surface temperatures. This means that hurricanes that do form have the potential to be stronger as they gain strength over warmer waters.
Forecasters have predicted a more active than usual hurricane season. Now, more than ever, it is critical to take the necessary steps to minimize the impact of hurricanes, especially if you are located along the gulf coast and Atlantic coast, which is more prone to have hurricanes. Getting your home and car ready for the hurricane season will help you save time and money in the future.
Hurricane Preparedness Tips for Your Home
1.Hurricane-proof Your Home
. Check your doors and windows. Make sure your doors and windows are hurricane-proofed with good quality shutters and other coverings.
. Maintain your roof. Hurricanes can do serious damage to your roof, causing leaks and cracks, or ripping it off. To prevent or minimize damages, you should consider reinforcing roof trusses.
. Have a windstorm expert inspect your roof to ensure it is up to code and ready to withstand high-speed winds. Regularly examine your roof and repair any faulty materials that can increase the risk of damages.
. Close any gaps or leaks in openings with caulk. Use flashings to direct water flow away from your home and use soffits to preserve the life of your construction materials. Purchase and install a backflow prevention device in your sewer line.
. Prepare for the power outage. There is a chance that a power outage might occur during a hurricane, so it is best to purchase a generator, gas cans, CO detectors, and extension cords. Purchase a solar-powered charging device so that gadgets like your phones and tablets do not run out of power during an emergency.
2.Have an Emergency Plan
Talk with members of your family, including kids that are of learning age, to create an emergency plan in the event of a hurricane. You should also purchase a road atlas. Having a good sense of all the possible routes leading away from a hurricane-risk zone is particularly important. Relying on the GPS may lead to congestion, as most people will be doing this as well. Instead, plan a route and a set of alternate routes by hand ahead of time to save yourself a lot of trouble.
3.Keep an Inventory
The most important step is to maintain an accurate home inventory. Keeping an inventory comes in handy when purchasing an insurance policy because it ensures that you have enough coverage for your properties. If you can provide a list of all your belongings, you may be able to save time when making claims. This record can also help you when applying for disaster aid during an emergency evacuation. Take the document along with you when leaving the high-risk area.
Hurricane Preparedness Tips for Your Car
1.Protect and Maintain Your Car
The first thing is to keep your automobiles in your garage or under a cover, and always keep an emergency kit in your car. Inspect it regularly to ensure that it is in good working condition so that there are no problems should you need to evacuate the premises.
2.Carry out Regular Inspections
Here are some of the things that you need to check often to make sure your car is prepared for hurricane season.
- Antifreeze levels
- Battery and ignition system
- Brakes
- Exhaust system
- Fuel and air filters
- Heater and defroster
- Lights and flashing hazard lights
- Oil levels and oil change frequency
- Thermostat
- Windshield wiper equipment and washer fluid level
3.Keep Your Tank Full
Always keep a full gas tank. This precaution is not specific to hurricane preparedness. An unexpected situation might require you to make a quick exit, and you do not want to be caught with an empty tank. Emergency supplies to carry in your car should include spare tire(s), jumper cables, windshield scraper, and hazard triangle or road flares.
Having your home and car ready is important, but so is having the right insurance. At Abbate, we will help you to find the best insurance coverage to suit your unique needs. We compare prices among different insurance companies to give you the best rates available. Contact us today!
Leave A Comment