Dear Residents,It is that time of year when we need to prepare for the upcoming storm season. As you know weather can be very unpredictable here in the Low country, so it is very important to get a Hurricane plan in place. Over the next couple of weeks I will be sharing some important information in regards to Hurricane preparedness. This week we will focus on preparing a Hurricane Plan.
YOUR OUR HURRICANE PLAN:
Have a practice drill to determine what everyone’s responsibility will be.
Educate all family members in CPR and other first aid measures.
Teach children how to use a fire extinguisher and when & how to call 911 foremergency assistance.
Check all fire alarms, smoke alarms, etc. for proper operation. Determine what the criteria will be as to whether you evacuate or stay in yourhome. Know your evacuation routes and determine which route you will use shouldan evacuation order be issued.
Determine in advance your evacuation destination. If you will not be stayingwith a friend or family member, make hotel reservations at this location assoon as a “watch” is issued. Remember, that during an evacuation severaltowns may be evacuated at the same time and hotels will fill up quickly in allsurrounding areas. Reservations can be cancelled.
Make a decision about vehicles. If you have more than one vehicle and willnot be taking all of them with you determine where the other vehicles will beleft during the storm.
Make a decision about boats and other recreational vehicles.
If you have pets, determine whether they will evacuate with you or be placedin a shelter.
Have a list of phone numbers, such as family members, doctors, employers,insurance company’s, etc.
Make arrangements for extra cash on hand. Catalog all personal items NOW. Include description (brand name, modelnumber, age, purchase price, place of purchase, etc.) Take a picture ofeverything and make two copies of the pictures and lists. Keep one copy withyou and send the other to a relative or friend out of town. Never give theinsurance company the only copy.
Have a secure place for all valuables & documents that you will need to takewith you, such as birth certificates, property deeds, insurance policies, etc.
Determine an out-of-town person who can be a “point of contact” tocommunicate messages if communications are down for an extended period oftime.
Prepare and maintain a “Hurricane Kit” (a list of recommended supplies isincluded). It is recommended that you have approximately 7 gallons of waterfor each person and food supplies for a minimum of 2 weeks.
Check all flashlights, battery operated radios & TVs, and other supplies in your“Hurricane Kit” for proper operation.
Evaluate your home to determine if you can make improvements that willprovide better protection. If you have an older home, getting a professionalopinion about updated building codes, etc. may be helpful in determiningbeneficial improvements.Community Management Group Hurricane Planning TipsPage 4 of 11
You should also review your insurance policy, with your agent, to determine ifyou need to make any coverage changes. Be sure to ask questions aboutcoverage for updated building codes, demolition coverage for an undamagedportion of your home, flood coverage, understand your coverage anddeductibles, clarify any exclusions, verify that in the event of a complete lossyou will have the coverage you need to re-build, ask what you will need toprove a claim, find out what their procedures are relative to immediateprotection of the home following a loss, ask who to contact immediatelyfollowing the storm and get phone numbers, how long you may expect towait for an adjuster, how contact will be made in the event that allcommunications are lost for a period of time, and any other questions thatyou can think of. Preparing now will make the claims process much easier andless stressful for everyone.
Obtain and prepare plywood, plastic, shutters or other protective provisionfor windows & doors. Install and inspect the covering in advance of anemergency to insure proper fit.
Aaron Hettesheimer
