Let Hurricane Season Begin with a Plan from SERVPRO of the Lower Shore

9/2/2016 (Permalink)

The 2016 Hurricane Season begins June 1^st.  It runs through November 30^th, though a hurricane can occur at any time throughout the year.  The peak season occurs from mid-August to late October. From Hurricane Katrina in late August 2005 to Superstorm Sandy in late October 2013, the United States has seen its fair share of catastrophic storms during the peak hurricane season.  From these storms and other tropical disturbances like them, you probably know that you should heed evacuation orders.  But is your home or business prepared for hurricane season? 

The US has not been directly hit by a major hurricane (category 3 or higher) in more than a decade.  According to NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “Many people are suffering from hurricane amnesia in the forms of complacency, denial and inexperience.  This remarkable hurricane streak is going to end, and we have to be ready for it to happen this season.”

The first step in making sure your home or business is prepared for natural disasters is to check your insurance coverage.  Make sure you have enough insurance to repair or even replace your home.  Don’t forget coverage for your car or boat.  Remember that standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding!  You will need a separate policy for that, and it requires a 30-day waiting period.  Depending on your location, you may not even be able to purchase it during the height of hurricane season.  To learn more about flood insurance, visit the National Flood Insurance Program website at www.floodsmart.gov.  To learn more about your homeowners policy, download and review: A Homeowner's Insurance Guide to Natural Disasters.

Your next step is to prepare the structure for whatever happens.  At the very least, have the proper plywood, steel or aluminum panels to board up the windows and doors. Remember, the garage door is the most vulnerable part of the home, so it must be able to withstand the winds. Call your local SERVPRO franchise to come to your business and complete an ERP, Emergency Ready Profile (or ask how you can create your own for your home).  The ERP is a complimentary assessment of your facility that will help you prepare your staff for Mother Nature’s worst.  Email us for more information or to schedule your assessment today. 

For more resources on how to prepare your home, visit any or all of the following websites:

FLASH (Federal Alliance for Safe Homes) http://www.flash.org/protect.php

National Hurricane Center http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

National Weather Center http://www.weather.gov/

FEMA www.fema.gov

NOAA http://www.nws.noaa.gov/com/weatherreadynation/hurricane_preparedness.html

And if the worst does happen, call us to help you with your cleanup.  We can help make it “like it never even happened®.” #410-749-2221