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Hurricanes often leave the destruction of property and lives in their wake. Preparing your home, your property, and your family for a hurricane can help minimize the damage and impact of the storm. Here are some essential tips to ensure that you and your family are ready when a hurricane hits.

Prepare Your Home

• Use storm shutters or other durable materials to board up doors, windows, and garage openings.
• Hire a professional tree trimming service to trim overhanging trees.
• Bring in any outdoor objects (patio furniture, toys, gardening equipment, grills).

Know Your Evacuation Zone

An evacuation zone determines the likelihood of your area being affected by storm surge. If you are in a zone that will need to be evacuated, make sure you have a travel route and destination planned ahead of time.

To find out your evacuation zone, call your government-emergency management office, or search using this link: https://www.floridadisaster.org/knowyourzone/.

Review Your Insurance Coverage

At the beginning of hurricane season, it is a good idea to review your insurance coverage with your insurance agent to ensure that you have all the coverage you need should a hurricane hit your area.

Here are some basics that you should review with your insurance agent:

• Is your policy active and are your payments up to date?
• Update any changes to your home.
• Get a digital copy of your policy, know your coverage and deductibles.
• Do you have coverage for specific, high-value items like artwork or jewelry?
• Ensure you have the contact information for your agent, know how to file a claim, and you have your policy number on hand.

Your agent at Burke, Bogart & Brownell would be happy to review this information with you and ensure that you and your family are prepared. Reach out to your agent or give us a call at (561) 392-8888.

Inventory Your Possessions

If your property does become damaged from a hurricane, taking inventory of all your possessions beforehand will help during the claim process.

• Take videos and photographs of the interior and exterior of your home – make sure they are timestamped.
• Create an inventory list of all the items in your home, get your kids involved!
• Store contents in your garage or shed in waterproof, structurally sound containers to keep them from damage.

Have a Family Emergency Plan

Having a family emergency plan is essential to ensure your family stays calm and safe during and after a storm. Two of the most important steps in developing an emergency plan are creating a list of emergency phone numbers (doctor, vet, animal shelters, Red Cross) and assembling an emergency supply kit.

How to Prepare a Hurricane Supply Kit

• Stock up on water and non-perishable food.
• Have a supply of batteries, a radio, flashlights, first-aid kit, and portable phone chargers.
• Have a 1-month supply of necessary medication.
• Store a reserve supply of drinking/washing water in clean bathtubs, containers, and non-breakable bottles.
• Place valuables and important documents in a plastic bag or waterproof container and store them in a high place in your home.
• Ensure that you have available cash. You don’t know if ATMs will be operating near you.

Insurance at Burke, Bogart & Brownell

For 49 years, we have built our agency to be client focused. Your needs come first, and we believe in doing the right thing, always. Our professionals at Burke, Bogart & Brownell are always happy to assist you and answer any questions. Call us at 561-392-8888.