A hurricane is a severe tropical storm that forms in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Eastern Pacific Ocean. All Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastal areas are subject to hurricanes. Parts of the Southwest United States and the Pacific Coast also experience heavy rains and floods each year from hurricanes spawning off Mexico.
The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June to November, with the peak season from mid-August to late October. Hurricanes can produce winds exceeding 155 miles per hour, as well as tornadoes and microbursts, causing catastrophic damage to coastlines and several hundred miles inland. Hurricanes can create storm surges along the coast and cause extensive damage from heavy rainfall.
To protect your family and property this coming hurricane season, here are some tips from the experts of ServiceMaster by Wright.
Hurricane Preparation
Advanced planning can save you, your family, and your home. Here are some storm preparation tips to assist in hurricane preparation.
- 1. Create an emergency kit containing the essentials, including:
- Blankets and sheets
- Emergency Cash
- Emergency power sources (i.e. generators, flashlight, emergency lights)
- First Aid Kit
- Medicine and necessary prescriptions for all family members including pets
- Nonperishable food (i.e. canned goods, biscuits, pre-made meals)
- Portable Chargers
- Toiletries
- Water (a week’s supply)
- 2. Learn the elevation level of your property and research if the land is flood-prone.
- 3. Be familiar with your surroundings.
- 4. Identify levees and dams in the area and determine whether they pose a hazard to you.
- 5. Understand community hurricane evacuation routes and higher ground locations. Determine where you would go and how you would get there if evacuation would be required.
- 6. Identify the location of community shelters.
- 7. Write down, display, and program emergency phone numbers, including:
- Dentists
- Doctors
- Health Insurance Plan and Policy Number
- Local Fire Department
- Local Hospital
- Local Police Department
- Pharmacy
- 8. Develop a family communication plan and evacuation route. Identify two meeting places: one outside the home and one outside the neighborhood, in case you cannot return home. Ensure all parties have the address and phone number of the meeting place outside the neighborhood.
- 9. Fill your vehicle's gas tank and pack a cell phone car charger.
- 10. Ensure all electronic communication devices (cell phones, laptops, etc.) are fully charged so you can keep tabs on current happenings.
- 11. Review and understand your insurance coverage and deductibles for hurricane damage. Investigate flood insurance. Flood insurance is the only way to financially protect your property or business from flood damage.
- 12. Place vital documents (birth certificates, social security cards, bank records, etc.) in sealed plastic bags and take them with you.
- Cover windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection. Or board windows with 5/8” marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.
- Install straps or clips to securely fasten the roof to the frame structure.
- Install an emergency tarp or roof tarping. This is an effective method of protection and a temporary solution to a leaking roof. A temporary roof is essential to halt extreme damage and to avoid additional complications or disasters.
- Ensure trees and shrubs surrounding the home are well-trimmed so they are more wind-resistant.
- Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
- Reinforce garage doors; if wind enters a garage, it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.
- Bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans, and anything not tied down.
- Determine how and where to secure personal boats.
- Install a generator.
- If in a high-rise building, be prepared to take shelter on or below the 10th floor.
- Consider building a safe room.
- Turn off propane tanks and unplug small appliances. If you lose power or are evacuating, shut off the main switches in the circuit breaker box.
- Take photos and videos of the property's exterior and interior.
Does Renters Insurance Cover Water Damage?
While many renters focus on coverage for belongings if their rental is burglarized, it’s also important to consider coverage for water damage.
A basic renters insurance policy may provide coverage for personal property losses caused by:
- Windstorm or hail
- Weight of sleet, snow, and/or ice
- Smoke
- Fire and/or lightning
- Explosions
- Freezing of plumbing systems
- Toilet flooding due to accidental overflow
- Fire sprinkler failure/accidental discharge
- Accidental or sudden discharge of water from a plumbing system or other appliance
- Ceiling leaks
- Explosions
Remember that renters insurance does not cover flood damage, so to further secure a property, there is a need to purchase a separate policy for flood damage.
Does Renters Insurance Cover Water Damage?
- Get in touch with your insurer or the agent who sold you the homeowner’s insurance. An adjuster will be assigned by the insurance company, who will inspect the damage and provide an estimate for evaluation by the insurance company.
- Document all losses. Take photos of the damage and make a list of the items that were destroyed or that need to be repaired once the damage has occurred. Include the total cost of the things, as well as any receipts you may find. The faster you can document your property damages before the insurance adjuster arrives, the easier it will be to file a claim. A conventional homeowner’s insurance policy covers both the structure of the home and the homeowner’s personal belongings.
- Verify the adjuster’s identity. Scammers may appear in the aftermath of natural disasters. To be safe, ask the insurance company for the adjuster’s name before allowing him or her into your home, and then ask for identification before allowing the person in.
- Show the adjuster all the damage. Ensure that you are at home when the adjuster arrives so that he or she can see everything that has been lost or damaged. It is insufficient to simply go through a portion of your property.
- Document all contact with the insurance company. Continue to communicate with the adjuster via email after he or she has left so that you have a record of what you’ve said. Keep track of when an adjuster comes to see you, as well as any missed appointments, missed phone calls, what you talked about, and even if he or she was rude. Though you are unlikely to need this information, it will come in handy if any disputes that must be settled in court arise.
- Make copies of all documents. Everything you give the adjuster, including your list of lost or damaged properties, should be copied. Obtain written approval from the adjuster before beginning water removal, hurricane damage restoration, or mold remediation.
Florida's Leader in Emergency Property Repair & Restoration
Need post-hurricane property repairs in Florida? When disaster strikes, call ServiceMaster by Wright at (239) 431-9947 for a free, on-site inspection. You may also connect with us online to schedule an appointment.
- Southwest Florida’s leading storm damage restoration company
- Trained and equipped technicians
- Trained and equipped technicians
- IICRC Certified Firm
- 24/7 live answering service
We service residential and commercial properties in Bonita Springs, Bradenton, Cape Coral, Englewood, Fort Myers, Longboat Key, Naples, Marco Island, Sarasota, Siesta Key, and Venice, Florida. Contact us today.
