Protect Home and Business during Hurricane Season
As Americans in the Gulf Coast states and parts of the Eastern seaboard watch the weather forecasts a little closer from June 1 to Nov. 30 (hurricane season), the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) is providing several important steps homeowners and business owners can take to protect both home and property.
Among them:
Review Your Insurance Coverage - The time to review your policy is prior to having to file a claim. It is important for consumers to have both the proper amount and kind of insurance.
Individuals should be sure to have enough coverage to rebuild their home or business and replace all the contents. In the event you've made a large alteration or improvement to your residence or home, let your agent know so the policy can be updated. Homeowners should also find out how much coverage is available for Additional Living Expenses (ALE). Finally, 90 percent of all natural disasters involve some kind of flooding. Keep in mind that flood damage is not covered through standard home insurance policies; however it is available from the National Flood Insurance Program, along with some private insurers.
Put Together a Home/Business Inventory - This inventory is a list of all of one's personal or business possessions, along with their estimated value. The updated list helps individuals to acquire the right amount of insurance, speed up the claims process by substantiating losses and provide documentation for tax purposes or disaster assistance.
Protect Your Property - Individuals should hurricane-proof their home by keeping wind and water out. Among the means to do this would be investing in storm shutters and reinforced garage doors; securing roof shingles and sealing any openings; making sure all windows are properly installed and boarded up ahead of a hurricane to prevent mass broken glass.
Have an Evacuation Plan in Place - Finally, when a hurricane is near, advanced planning plays a major role. Decide before on where you will go and how you will get there.
The I.I.I. also recommends individuals practice their evacuation plan by giving themselves just 10 minutes to pack up the family,
Preventing hurricanes is not an option, but being prepared for them with the right insurance coverage and evacuation plan can make a world of difference.
