You know, at Help2Cover we’re big sports fans. One of our favorites is football. College or pro, there’s nothing quite like watching two teams meet on the field and go head to head in competition. Recently we’ve been captivated, first watching the NCAA Championship and then the drama that is the NFL Postseason. All those teams putting their skills, strategies, and preparation to the test to see who will be the best this year.
The big game may be over, but rest assured that no matter whether your team won, lost, or didn’t quite make it they are already planning for next year. That’s how championships are won. Through loads of preparation in the offseason teams become stronger, ready to take their shot at a championship.
It’s no different for you and your home.
How? Let me explain.
Hurricane season is a big deal here in the Lowcountry. This season is the period during which storms rise in the Atlantic, grow or weaken, and eventually make landfall. Sometimes it’s a powerful, life-threatening hurricane bearing down on us, and other times it’s a much milder tropical depression bringing higher winds and rain but less serious threats. But no matter the storm type and size, there are always concerns to be dealt with.
And we want to help you be ready for this hurricane season. So, in the tradition of our favorite football teams, we’re talking preparation and giving you some great tips to make sure you’re ready when it’s time.
Let’s get started.
Take/Update Your Inventories
Let’s try something.
Take a moment and think about your valuables. The furniture in your house, cars, computers, artwork, other electronics, the little mementos from vacations past, and anything that you would hate to lose in the event of a natural disaster such as a hurricane. Do you have that picture in your mind? Great.
Now let me ask you something. In the event of a catastrophic loss, how would you replace them? If you’re unsure then let me ask you one more question. How long has it been since you performed an inventory of those items?
Inventories are a pain. There’s no doubt about that. But having an inventory can help you determine what type of insurance and how much you need should you have to replace them. They can also help you when returning home from an evacuation make sure everything is still there and/or undamaged. It’s a great thing to have in general.
So take a moment and review your valuables. Identify them and put them on your inventory list along with any applicable serial numbers and estimated value to replace them. Now take one copy and place it somewhere safe for yourself and take another to your trusted insurance pro to review. You won’t regret it.
Get Ahead on Those Inspections
There are so many things to check and inspect on your home. Often we neglect these inspections, figuring we will just take care of problems as they arise. But this isn’t a game-winning attitude for hurricane season prep. No, inspections are important. Why? Because we need to know the state of our home before the storms come.
One very important inspection to make sure you have done is a roof inspection from a qualified and trusted roofing professional. Good roof inspections help establish a baseline for your roof’s condition leading into hurricane season and can make a claim move much faster should you need to file one. Faster claims mean quicker repairs and a much more comfortable return to normal. Additionally, this will help you find any small leaks or other problems that could create major damage and get them fixed before they become serious issues.
While you are at it also consider things such as cleaning your gutters and making sure your home’s drainage and plumbing are in good condition. These may seem like small things, but they can make a world of difference in protecting your home during storm activity. In fact, something like clogged gutters can actually increase the threat of water intrusion in your home from even normal thunderstorms. Just imagine how much worse it could be in a hurricane.
Review Your Policies
We talk about this a lot in these pieces. Nobody enjoys going back and looking at their insurance policies. Most people just want to pay their premiums and forget about it. But life changes and our insurance coverage needs to change with them. The last thing you want is to be hit with a crisis and discover that your policies don’t protect you like you thought they would.
Fortunately, trusted insurance professionals are able to help you review your policies and make sure you’re appropriately covered. The earlier you speak to one, the more helpful they can be. So don’t wait. Get out there and talk to your insurance pro today.
Develop an Emergency Plan
What would you do if a potentially catastrophic hurricane was on its way to your home? Do you know where you would go? What you would take? What if you couldn’t evacuate? What would you do?
Taking a moment to prepare an emergency plan is vital. It doesn’t have to be overly complicated, but it does need to address a few major points. Consider this simple outline as you develop your emergency plan.
● Set up an evacuation plan including the route you will take to get out of town and where you will hold up during the storm.
● Make sure your important documents (such as insurance documents, birth certificates, social security cards, etc), valuables, clothing, and whatever else you might need to take (such as pet supplies) are conveniently located and easy to grad in the event of an evacuation.
● Make sure you have a well-stocked emergency kit with 3-5 days of supplies in the event you are unable to evacuate.
● Know where you will secure lawn furniture and have a plan to clear lawn debris and such should a storm arrive.
An emergency plan keeps you and your family prepared in the event of a dangerous storm. Taking the time may seem unnecessary, but you’ll be happy you did in the event of a catastrophic storm.
So help yourself sleep easy and start preparing for storm season now. Review, plan, and make the changes necessary. You won’t regret it.
Let Us Help You Prepare to Prevent Loss
No one loves talking about insurance, but we love insurance when it does its job. Well-designed insurance policies help shield us from catastrophic loss in the case of unforeseen events. Accidents and natural disasters happen, but you don’t have to wait to be a victim. The trusted insurance professionals at Help2Cover are ready and available to talk with you about all your insurance needs so you can be prepared to prevent loss. Contact us today to learn more.
At Help2Cover (H2C), we understand that insurance goes hand in hand with solid financial planning. H2C Insurance Agency was founded by a group of professional insurance and financial planning experts. With years of experience in the industry, we have a deep understanding of the importance of comprehensive coverage and strategic financial guidance. We go beyond traditional insurance services. We strive to provide holistic solutions that integrate insurance protection seamlessly into your broader financial goals. Whether you’re seeking personal insurance coverage or business insurance solutions, our dedicated team is here to tailor a plan that aligns with your unique needs.
