Hurricane season is here, are you ready for it? Floridians often take a ho-hum attitude when hurricane seasons arrives believing that if they and their property came through past hurricanes without incident, they are safe. These folks are mistaken as the need for advance preparations cannot be overstated.
How To Prepare for Hurricane Season
Start planning for hurricane season in Florida before the season begins.
- Evacuation – Even if you don’t live on the coast, it is imperative that you have an evacuation plan. Check to see if your home is in a hurricane evacuation area where leaving is mandatory when a hurricane is coming.
- Food & Water- buy these and other supplies in advance of a hurricane. Many residents of Florida lay in their emergency supplies before hurricane season starts (June 1). If the supplies are not needed, residents consume them when hurricane season ends (November 31)
- Copy Important Documents – Make copies of important documents that show proof of ownership of your home, cars, and boat. Keep one set of copies with your hurricane supplies and the originals in a safe place outside your home (such as a safe deposit box at the bank). If your home is a total loss to a hurricane, you need to prove you it was your home.
- Inspect the Exterior of Your Home – repair loose shingles and damaged roofs, siding that is in disrepair and similar repairs. Any part of your home’s exterior that is compromised is susceptible to wind and water damage leading to expensive damages. Windows should be covered, yards removed of things that can become wind-borne.
- Backup Electronic Files – remove your electronics from electrical supplies, backup important files. If you have electronics that run on batteries make sure they are fully charged. Store your important backups in the cloud or on a drive that is kept away from your home.
- Check Your Homeowner’s Insurance – Many people mistakenly believe that if they homeowner’s or renters insurance, they are protected from flooding due to a hurricane. This is not true! Contact your insurance agent or carrier to learn about buying flood insurance.
What Every Homeowner and Renter Needs to Know about Hurricane Insurance
Homeowners and renters insurance does not protect you from floods associated with hurricanes. Luckily, the federal government, through the Federal Flood Insurance Program, does offer flood protection from hurricanes at an affordable rate.
Dimmitt Insurance, in the greater Tampa Bay area, offers homeowners and renters insurance throughout the state of Florida. Call us today for a no obligation home/renter’s insurance checkup and a quote for flood insurance. Our number is (866) 763-6627 or use our online confidential contact form.
Homeowners whose property is on the FEMA Flood Mapping Service maps must obtain and keep up flood insurance as a condition for obtaining and keeping a mortgage. If your mortgage is paid off, flood insurance is optional. Nevertheless, the risks presented to Florida homeowners for hurricane and other causes of a flood is so great that this optional insurance should be bought.
While the period of 2005 to 2015 saw no hurricanes making landfall in Florida, this was an aberration. On average, Florida suffers a major hurricane landfall once every 2.7 years. Evacuating your home is a major inconvenience, returning to where your home once stood and it is washed away is a major disaster!