If you’re packing your car or juggling your weekend travel plans to avoid Hurricane Earl, it may be hard to see the bright side through the driving rain. That said, as hurricanes go, Earl isn’t expected to be nearly as bad as coastal disasters in recent history. Some experts suggest the damage caused by Hurricane Earl could result in as little as $100 million in losses – just 5% of the losses sustained after Hurricane Floyd in 1999.
Of course, hurricane damage estimates are notoriously fuzzy. (In 2005, economists and insurance professionals accurately predicted that Hurricane Katrina would cost between $25 billion and $156 billion.)
If you live in the hurricane’s path – or in any other part of the country prone to extreme weather – there are several steps you can take to make your evacuation worry-free.
First, jot down your insurance agents’ contact information – you’ll need to reach them while you’re away to get details about your coverage. They can also pull up a copy of your insurance policy in case you can’t find it before leaving town.
Here are 10 more steps to take to deal with insurance issues in the wake of the hurricane.
1) Document your home and its belongings
With your video camera, walk through your home, including the attic and basement, recording all of your possessions, including appliances, electronics and belongings in drawers and closets. Also record your home’s exterior. (If you don’t have a video camera, use a photo camera.) When you return home, make another recording. The footage can serve as evidence to a home insurance company when you file your claim. Keep a copy of the video in a secure location so that you can access it even if your home is destroyed by the hurricane.
2) Prevent water damage
Install storm shutters or plywood on your windows and doors. Place sandbags on the ground level. Also, install or maintain a sump pump.
3) Turn off your utilities
Turn off water to avoid flood damage. If your house uses city gas, turn off the gas main to avoid an explosion.
4) Secure your roof
Install hurricane straps or clips to keep the roof attached. Check the roof for weak areas and anchor or remove items on your roof like a television antenna that could blow away.
5) Prepare your yard
Trim dead wood and overhanging branches on nearby trees and move patio furniture indoors.
6) Place belongings up high in your house
Move meaningful possessions to the second floor and take valuables with you.
7) Secure your boat
Have a boat? Store it in your home garage, a boatyard or with a storage company. Otherwise, it could crash against the rocks in the storm. Find tips on preparing your boat for a hurricane at BoatUS.org.
Review your pet insurance policy
Most policies provide coverage if pets sustain injuries related to weather events.
9) Store your car safely
Put your car in your garage or in a storage space high above ground to reduce the chances of water damage. If your car is damaged when you return, call your insurance agent and start the claims process. The agent will send you a list of body shops for quotes.
10) Keep receipts
Residents whose homes are located in areas subject to mandatory evacuations should keep all the receipts from their hotel, food and laundry and send them to their insurance company, which will reimburse them regardless of whether their homes suffered damage.
Similar Posts:
- Bournemouth cheapest postcode for home insurance
- BP oil spill raises fears of high-stakes hurricane season
- Unigroup to sell Vanliner Insurance subsidiary to National Interstate Insurance for $130M
- What Does Credit Card Rental Insurance Cover?
- California Car Insurance Quotes – What You Ought To Know
Tags: Earl, Hurricane Earl