The first month of the 2022 hurricane season is almost over. If you haven’t prepared, now is the time. Aftermath Adjusters & Consulting wants to be sure that you know what you need, how to get ready, and how to stay safe during a storm. Before following any of the tips below, please make sure you have solid Florida hurricane insurance. Here are our tips.
#1 Gasoline
Once a storm is predicted for the area, gasoline becomes scarce, lines grow long, and prices go up. During hurricane season, we recommend that you never let your vehicles fall below half a tank. This will give you enough gas to evacuate if needed. You can also keep gasoline in approved gasoline containers to top off your vehicle’s tanks, run generators, and power chain saws.
#2 Water
Although city water continues to run without electricity, the water supply can often get tainted during a hurricane, so having a water supply is a critical consideration. There are two ways to handle this.
- Purchase bottled water. You need one gallon per person per day. At a minimum, you need to have at least a 3-day supply. Some sources recommend having at least 20 gallons per person.
- Save gallon plastic containers. Before a storm, fill those containers with water.
#3 Light
Electricity is one of the first things to go during a hurricane. That means you’ll want to think about how you will light up your space after dark.
- Flashlights with extra batteries and bulbs
- Candles with matches – be sure to keep matches in a waterproof container
#4 Documents
After a storm, you will need documents when talking to your insurance company and dealing with government aid. If you are displaced, you will need ID, financial, and medical documents as well. When gathering these documents:
- Keep original copies in a waterproof container
- Make a digital copy of these documents and store them online
- Take them with you if you have to evacuate
#5 Food
Have enough nonperishable food to last at least 72 hours. Make sure the food is nutritious and filling. Whenever possible, store food that does not need to be cooked. If you have cans with no pull tabs, be sure to purchase a manual can opener. Good foods to consider include:
- Protein bars
- Cereal bars
- Granola bars
- Stew or other hardy soup
- Peanut butter crackers
- Canned meats like chicken or tuna
- Peanut butter
- Nuts
- Dry cereal
- Dried fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Fruit juice
#6 Supplies
There are a lot of great items to have in case of an emergency. Here are a few to consider.
- Cash – consider having cash on hand in case of an emergency. This can help buy supplies even if there is no way to get money out of an ATM or cash registers can’t take credit cards.
- Battery-operated or hand-crank radio
- Grill with extra charcoal or propane
- Fire extinguisher
- Tool kit
- Toilet paper
- First aid kit
- Supplies to weatherproof your home – plywood, tarps, plastic sheeting, duct tape
- Heavy work gloves
- Generator
- Chain saw
#7 Home Prep
There are a lot of things you can do now to prepare your home for a potential hurricane. Don’t wait until the last minute to:
- Trim dead tree limbs
- Reinforce roof supports
- Install storm shutters
- Install a strong garage door or reinforce the door you have
- Clean out gutters
#8 Plan
Finally, you should have an evacuation plan. This plan will be what you use in case you must leave your home. Having the plan in place will give you peace of mind during a trying time.
At Aftermath Adjusters & Consulting, we hope that this hurricane season will pass you by with no issues. However, if you do need to make a hurricane insurance claim in Florida, give us a call. Our experts are ready to assist you.