I. HURRICANE TIPS BEFORE AND AFTER:
II. YOUR INSURANCE CLAIM AFTER THE STORM (SEE BELOW)
Prepare a Personal Evacuation Plan
Identify
ahead of time where you could go if you are told to evacuate. Choose several
places--a friend's home in another town, a motel, or a shelter.
Keep
handy the telephone numbers of these places as well as a road map of your
locality. You may need to take alternative or unfamiliar routes if major
roads are closed or clogged.
Listen
to local radio or TV stations for evacuation instructions. If advised to
evacuate, do so immediately.
Take
these items with you when evacuating:
Prescription
medications and medical supplies;
Bedding
and clothing, including sleeping bags and pillows
Bottled
water, battery-operated radio and extra batteries, first aid kit, flashlight
Car
keys and maps
Documents, including driver’s license, Social Security card, proof of
residence, insurance policies, wills, deeds, birth and marriage
certificates, tax records, etc
Money,
credit cards and your check book Address book
Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit Including the Following Items:
First
aid kit and essential medications.
Canned
food and can opener.
At
least three gallons of water per person.
Protective
clothing, rainwear, and bedding or sleeping bags.
Battery-powered
radio, flashlight, and extra batteries.
Special
items for infants, elderly, or disabled family members.
Written
instructions on how to turn off electricity, gas and water if authorities
advise you to do so. (Remember, you'll need a professional to turn them back
on.)
Prepare for High Winds
Install
hurricane shutters or purchase precut 1/2" outdoor plywood boards for each
window of your home. Install anchors for the plywood and predrill holes in
the plywood so that you can put it up quickly.
Make
trees more wind resistant by removing diseased and damaged limbs, then
strategically removing branches so that wind can blow through.
Know What to Do When a Hurricane WATCH Is Issued
Listen
to local radio or TV stations for up-to-date storm information.
Prepare
to bring inside any lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or ornaments, trash
cans, hanging plants, and anything else that can be picked up by the wind.
Prepare
to cover all windows of your home. If shutters have not been installed, use
precut plywood as described above. Note: Tape does not prevent windows from
breaking, so taping windows is not recommended. Fill your car's gas tank.
Recheck
manufactured home tie-downs.
Check
batteries and stock up on canned food, first aid supplies, drinking water,
and medications.
Know What to Do When a Hurricane WARNING Is Issued
Listen
to the advice of local officials, and leave if they tell you to do so.
Complete
preparation activities.
If
you are not advised to evacuate, stay indoors, away from windows.
Be
aware that the calm "eye" is deceptive; the storm is not over. The worst
part of the storm will happen once the eye passes over and the winds blow
from the opposite direction. Trees, shrubs, buildings, and other objects
damaged by the first winds can be broken or destroyed by the second winds.
Be
alert for tornadoes. Tornadoes can happen during a hurricane and after it
passes over. Remain indoors, in the center of your home, in a closet or
bathroom without windows.
Stay
away from flood waters. If you come upon a flooded road, turn around and go
another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising
rapidly around you, get out of the car and climb to higher ground.
Know What to Do After a Hurricane Is Over
Keep
listening to local radio or TV stations for instructions.
If
you evacuated, return home when local officials tell you it is safe to do
so.
Inspect
your home for damage.
Use
flashlights in the dark; do not use candles.
Be
careful of downed or damaged electrical wires, especially if your house is
wet.
Power Outage Safety:
Only
use a flashlight for emergency lighting. Never use candles!
Turn
off electrical equipment you were using when the power went out.
Avoid
opening the refrigerator and freezer.
Do
not run a generator inside a home or garage.
If
you use a generator, connect the equipment you want to power directly to the
outlets on the generator. Do not connect a generator to a home's electrical
system. Sudden power outages can be frustrating and troublesome, especially
when they are prolonged. Perishable foods should not be held above 40
degrees for more than 2 hours. If a power outage is 2 hours or less, you
need not be concerned, but how do you save your food when the refrigerator
is out for longer times? Being prepared can help. By planning ahead, you can
save your perishables. Listen to local radio and television for updated
information.
Food Safety:
Sudden
power outages can be frustrating and troublesome, especially when they are
prolonged. Perishable foods should not be held above 40 degrees for more
than 2 hours. If a power outage is 2 hours or less, you need not be
concerned, but how do you save your food when the refrigerator is out for
longer times? Being prepared can help. By planning ahead, you can save your
perishables.
What
do I need?
One
or more coolers. Inexpensive styrofoam coolers can do an excellent job as
well.
Shelf-stable
foods, such as canned goods and powdered or boxed milk. These can be eaten
cold or heated on the grill.
A
digital quick-response thermometer. A digital thermometer should be a
necessity in your kitchen anyway. With these thermometers you can quickly
check the internal temperatures of food for doneness and safety.
What
to do...
Do
not open the refrigerator or freezer. Tell your little ones not to open the
door. An unopened refrigerator will keep foods cold enough for a couple of
hours at least. A freezer that is half full will hold for up to 24 hours and
a full freezer for 48 hours.
If
it looks like the power outage will be for more than 2-4 hours, pack
refrigerated milk, dairy products, meats, fish, poultry, eggs, gravy,
stuffing and left-overs into your cooler surrounded by ice.
If
it looks like the power outage will be prolonged, prepare a cooler with ice
for your freezer items
Q & A’S regarding Food:
What should be discarded after a power outage?
As soon as the power returns, check
temperatures. If the food in the freezer has ice crystals and is not above
40 degrees you can refreeze. Perishable foods in the refrigerator should not
be above 40 degrees F. for more than two hours.
What if I go to bed and the power is still
not on? Before you go to bed, pack your
perishables into your coolers if you haven't already done so and put in as
much ice as you can. Also, when you go to bed, leave a bedroom light
switched on. When the power goes back on, it will wake you, so you can check
the condition of your foods in the freezer.
What if the power goes out while I’m at
work or out of the house and it has been more than a few hours before I get
home? Try to determine how long the power
has been out. Check the internal temperature of the food in your
refrigerator with your quick-response thermometer. A liquid such as milk or
juice is easy to check. Spot check other items like steaks or left-overs
also. If the internal temperature is above 40 degrees, it is best to throw
it out.
What if the power goes out and comes back
on while I am out? If your freezer is
fairly full and you know it was not longer than 24 hours, the food should be
OK. There will be loss of quality with refreezing, but the food will be
safe. If the refrigerator was out for more than 2-4 hours, you are best to
discard the perishables.
Water Treatment:
Filter
the water using a piece of cloth or coffee filter to remove solid particles.
Bring
it to a rolling boil for about one full minute.
Let
it cool at least 30 minutes. Water must be cool or the chlorine treatment
described below will be useless.
Add
16 drop of liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water, or 8 drops per
2-liter bottle of water. Stir to mix. Sodium hypochlorite of the
concentration of 5.25% to 6% should be the only active ingredient in the
bleach. There should not be any added soap or fragrances. A major bleach
manufacturer has also added Sodium Hydroxide as an active ingredient, which
they state does not pose a health risk for water treatment.
Let
stand 30 minutes.
If
it smells of chlorine. You can use it. If it does not smell of chlorine, add
16 more drop of chlorine bleach per gallon of water (or 8 drops per 2-liter
bottle of water), let stand 30 minutes, and smell it again. If it smells of
chlorine, you can use it. If it does not smell of chlorine, discard it and
find another source of water.
II. YOUR INSURANCE CLAIM AFTER
THE STORM
1. Contact the
insurance company:
Call your insurance company as soon as
possible and let the company know about the severity of the damage.
Insurance cases are sometimes prioritized. If your home has severe damage,
you may get more attention than a home that has only minor damage.
Make sure you give the insurance company all of your contact information.
Make it as easy as possible for the company to contact you.
If you can't live in your house and you have to stay at a motel or you need
to bunk with some friends, you have the right to some cash. Insurance
companies will reimburse you for additional cost of living expenses. This
reimbursement will even cover restaurant meals within reason. Keep track of
mileage and all extra expenses.
2. Make necessary
repairs:
Make temporary repairs and do not
compromise your safety or health. Err on the side of safety.
3. Document,
document, document:
It's up to you to substantiate your loss.
Think about photographing or video tape the damage. Make an inventory of
damaged items. Keep any records and a list of people you speak to. Florida
Public Adjusting will provide you with a master inventory packet to assist
you, along with other valuable information, upon request.
The better organized you are, the better.
4. Watch out
for scammers:
If your home was destroyed by a hurricane,
wildfire or other disaster, be cautious. There are dishonest service
providers that prey on disaster victims.
Don't be rushed into signing a contract with any roofing or building
company, although do try to prevent more water from entering your house or
building. Investigate the track record of any roofer, contractor or public
adjuster that you consider hiring. Never give anyone a deposit until you
have done your homework.
While public adjusters will almost always negotiate a much higher settlement
than you can yourself, many lack experience as obtaining a license is a very
simple task. Many public adjusters come from out of state and are not able
to handle a claim effectively. After all, it is not uncommon to need several
if not more inspections if the claim is going to be settled for the maximum
amount you are entitled to. A
5. Protect your
settlement:
If you're not happy with how the claim is
settled, go back to the adjuster and document your side to the head of the
claims department. If you're still not satisfied, you can hire a good public
adjuster. Mediations and the appraisal process can be extremely dangerous
without professional representation.
A public insurance adjuster documents the damages and will organize your
claim. A public adjustor then meets with your insurance company to maximize
the return on your policy. You typically pay them a percentage of your
claim. Florida Public Adjusting has public adjusters serving consumers
Statewide. Many claims are battles, but do not give up. We almost never
loose. Be sure and read the important information at INSURANCE LAW on this
web site.