It's now September and soon we will be in the peak of hurricane season. (Where has this year gone!?) Since September is also National Preparedness Month, I wanted to pass some valuable information along to you. It's important that we make sure we are prepared for anything that Mother Nature may have in store over the next few months as hurricane season picks up.
Here is a list of supplies that you may want to keep handy in case the weather turns bad quickly:
- Non-perishable food and water in your home, enough to last your family 3-5 days. Here are some of foods you will want to consider:
- Dry cereal
- Peanut butter
- Canned fruits and vegetables
- Canned juice
- Ready-to-eat soups / canned meat
- Quick energy snacks and crackers
- A good stock of:
- Flashlights
- Batteries
- Tarps
- Blankets
- Toiletries
- DO NOT INCLUDE CANDLES. Candles have been known to cause more fires during and after a disaster than anything else!
- A fully stocked First Aid kit
- Any Important Family Documents
- Important telephone numbers
- Record of bank account numbers
- Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)
- Inventory of valuable household goods
- Copy of will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds
- Record of credit card account numbers and companies
- Copy of passports, social security cards, immunization records
- Medical Needs
- Prescription drugs
- Insulin
- Denture needs
- Eye glasses
- Contact lenses and supplies
When You Know A Storm Is Coming...
- Be sure you have all your insurance policy numbers on hand.
- Withdraw emergency cash to avoid lines or ATM power outages post-storm.
- Turn your fridge to its coldest setting to preserve contents in case of power loss.
- Do a home inventory by taking pictures or video of your home's contents. It will help if you have to file a claim.
After the Storm - It will be your responsibility to take action to avoid further damage. If you can, cover broken windows or holes in the roof. Many policies will not cover damage that was not directly caused by the storm, so make sure to take precautions and ASK QUESTIONS if you have them about your current coverage.
Report Any Claims - The sooner you file any claim after the disaster, the faster we can start working to make sure your needs are met efficiently. To file a claim, call our agency at 908-301-0711 and we will be happy to guide you through the entire process and be a helping hand.
For more information about being prepared for disasters, whether it's a hurricane or something else Mother Nature sends our way, visit
www.ready.gov.
Yours and your family's safety is our Agency's #1 Priority. Make sure you are properly prepared before a disaster strikes. As always, if you have any questions about your current coverage, feel free to give us a call any time.