STAY SAFE DURING THE STORM

4 Tips to Help You Stay Safe During a Natural Disaster

No one expects to be caught in a potentially dangerous and extreme situation such as a natural disaster. If the unthinkable does occur, having a plan and knowing what to do could make all the difference for you and your loved ones. These four tips can help you stay safe during a disaster.

1. If you have not been ordered to evacuate, stay in a safe area or shelter during a natural disaster. In your home, a safe area may be a ground floor interior room, closet or bathroom. Be sure you have access to your survival kit in case you are in an emergency event that lasts several days.
2. Listen to your portable radio for important updates and instructions from local authorities. Remember to have a battery-powered radio in your survival kit. Some radios are now equipped with multiple power sources, such as batteries, solar panels and a hand crank.
3. If power is lost, use a generator with caution. Make sure conditions are safe before operating a portable generator. Only operate it outside — away from windows, doors or vents. Follow all manufacturer’s instructions.
4. Stay in your safe area and do not drive until the danger has passed. Resist the temptation to check on your property until you are sure it is safe to do so.

5 tips to help prepare your home for a hurricane

1. Help avoid water damage
   Heavy rains have the potential to cause significant water damage. These tips can help you prepare your home.
   • Close and lock all windows and doors and remove any window air conditioners.
   • Remove valuable items from your basement or elevate them off of the floor.
   • Clear debris from exterior drains and gutters.
   • Repair damaged gutters and downspouts to make sure water can drain away from your foundation.
   • Check your sump pump and the battery backup to confirm they are working properly.
2. Monitor your trees
   In a powerful windstorm, trees can be a hazard. Broken limbs or fallen trees – even uprooted shrubbery – could damage your home and fences, or your neighbor’s property.
   Routinely maintain the trees around your home:
   • Prune tree limbs within 10 feet of your home.
   • Check for cracking or splitting in trees.
   • Remove dead limbs and weakened trees.
3. Roofs, doors, windows and skylights
   It is important to keep wall openings such as doors, windows and skylights protected. The roof, doors and windows of your house are especially vulnerable to wind damage. When houses are exposed to hurricane-force winds, roofs are most susceptible to damage, followed by walls and openings such as skylights.
   Strengthen doors and windows by:
   • Installing reinforcing bolt kits at the top and bottom of doors.
   • Reinforcing garage doors.
   • Installing storm shutters over windows.
4. Secure outdoor Items
   If you live in an area that experiences high winds, outdoor items around your property that are not properly anchored can become airborne and cause damage.
   • If high winds are expected in your area, move as many outdoor items indoors well before the high winds arrive. As mentioned earlier, do not store propane tanks in your home or garage.
   • Adequately secure any remaining outdoor items that cannot be safely moved to protected areas.
5. Strengthen your exterior structure
   During a windstorm, wind forces are carried from the roof down to the exterior walls and then to the foundation. Homes can be damaged when wind and wind-driven water get under the building’s exterior walls if proper controls are not in place.
   Strengthen exteriors by employing a contractor to:
   • Install hurricane straps to reinforce roof-to-wall and wall-to-foundation connections.
   • Retrofit soffits to help ensure they remain in place in high winds.
   • Properly brace roof trusses.

To file a claim, click the button below and look for your insurance company in the drop down list located at the bottom of the page.
File A Claim