Are you prepared for a hurricane?
Living in the Southeast, near the coast, means living with the possibility of hurricanes every year, and the risk for damage that comes along with that. The great news is, we can usually see them coming, and know how to prepare for impact, or when it's time to get out of harms way altogether. Whether you choose to evacuate due to a major storm, or just plan to withstand a less threatening one, it is a great idea to have a plan for how to prepare.
The National Hurricane Center has some very helpful resources to help you and your family take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your home. Take a minute to check out the resources at this link: https://www.weather.gov/wrn/hurricane-preparedness
Once you know that you have the supplies you need and a plan for the storm, there is one more thing you should do. Take a look at your insurance policy. The time to figure out what to do in the event that you do have damage, is before the storm arrives. You should answer the following questions:
Do I know what insurance company my homeowner's policy is with?
What is my deductible?
What is my policy number?
Do I have flood insurance?
How do I file a claim if I have damage?
Who is my local agent?
If you don't know the answer to some, or all, of these questions, the best thing to do is call your insurance agent. They can give you all of this information and also help you file a claim if you do have damage from a storm. If you do not have a local agent, then you will need to refer to a copy of your homeowners policy and check the insurance company's website for the best way to file a claim.
Hopefully, you will never need to file a claim, but if you do, you'll be glad you already know exactly what to do and who to call if your home is damaged, or even destroyed by a hurricane.