How to Prepare for a Storm
Residents Should Be Prepared For Any Type of Storm

We all want to remain safe and secure, but no one is ever completely safe from disasters like hurricanes, floods and fires. You need to know what to do in the event of a disaster and what steps to take before a disaster ever strikes to assure that loss will be minimized. There are some very easy, but important things you can do to be prepared!
One of the most important things you can do before a storm hits is to make a home inventory. Another is to talk to your agent to make sure that you have the right coverage for your home. For example, homeowner policies do not cover flood and if you live in certain areas of the state you may need a separate wind and hail policy. It's also important to protect your property before the storm hits. Sometimes it is not the storm that directly causes the damage to your home, but your possessions that are not secured in your yard. Lastly, having a plan in place and knowing how you will respond to the storm can make a big impact!
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1
Planning for Storm Season
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2
Review your Insurance Policies
Talk to your agent to make sure that you have the right coverage for your home.
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3
Consider Earthquake and/or Flood Insurance
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4
Complete a Home Inventory
The purpose of a home inventory is to document what you own to help the insurance company evaluate your loss.
- Go from room to room and right down, photo or video the brand name and description, along with the estimated value of your belongings--if you can remember when you bought them, document that as well.
- If you can see serial numbers on your item, document or photograph them.
- Compile any receipts you have from your purchases and photograph them.
- Remember to go into your closets, storage places and garage to document those items.
- Upload or scan documents to your computer or cloud storage and date the file.
- If you prefer to use a mobile app, research these on your phone's app store.
- Store your home inventory in a safe, easily accessible place online, on your computer or in a safety box. Consider sharing a copy with friends or relatives.
- For your convenience, you can use this interactive inventory chart and calculator at the bottom of this page to document your possessions or to give you ideas on how to get started.
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Protect Your Property
- If you think a storm may be approaching, cover windows with storm shutters, siding, or plywood.
- Move vehicles into garages when possible, or park them near your home away from trees.
- Move grills, patio furniture and potted plants into the house or garage. Loose objects in your yard can become missiles, so tie down anything you can not bring indoors.
- Clear debris from gutters and downspouts.
- Anchor any fuel tanks.
- Move furniture, valuables and important documents to a safe place.
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