It won’t help you to learn how to handle a hurricane after the fact. There’s no time like the present to equip yourself with the knowledge that could save you and your property, and we’re here to help educate you on the basics. In this guide, Altieri Insurance Consultants will show you how to prepare for a hurricane, so you know what to do before, during, and after the next one strikes.

Preparations to Make Before a Hurricane

What you do before a hurricane can greatly affect how you fare after it, whether you are assuring your safety, capturing the full extent of the damage, or pursuing the result of your insurance claim. In advance of the hurricane coming, have your insurance policy coverage reviewed for accuracy, then make sure you keep insurance contact information and policy in hand. Preparations for a hurricane can differ between residential and business owners, so make sure you take every detail into account for each type of property.

For residences, you may need to account for the fact that you could be taking shelter for the long haul. In this case, don’t forget these essential tasks:

• Create an emergency kit with useful items like first aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, water, canned foods, and so on.
• Ensure that your vehicle is ready to handle road trips in case you need to evacuate at any given time. This includes having a full tank of gas.
• Bring in any outdoor furniture and other items that can become airborne by high winds. You don’t want to lose your possessions, but you also don’t want to unintentionally cause damage to your home or neighboring
• Unplug small appliances, computers, etc. to help prevent potential fire hazards or electrical accidents.

Learn more about residential hurricane risks on our service page.

For commercial property owners, one of the best things to do is have your policy reviewed in advance of the storm from a claims perspective designed to help identify coverage deficiencies and plug any potential holes before the loss occurs. From a physical standpoint, shut down all computer-related equipment after backing up all of your important information. Try to keep surveillance equipment operational for security purposes and for recordings of the event which may come in handy to document matters later on with your insurer. Boarding up windows and other large openings to prevent glass-related damage or worse is recommended. Use heavy mobile equipment to pin against exposed overhead doors to help prevent implosion. And since you might not be around to survey the building during the hurricane, you’ll want to make sure everything is powered off and that all outdoor items (like merchandise and promotional items) are taken inside before you leave the property behind.

Safety Precautions to Follow During a Hurricane

While waiting for a hurricane to pass, focus on your safety and that of others with you. If you see a calm appearing out of nowhere during the storm, realize that phenomenon can actually be the eye of the storm, which carries the backside of the hurricane close behind! Stay away from potential hazards like downed electrical lines, windows, sliding glass doors, and surging waters. Limit the risk of fires by using flashlights instead of candles and stay informed with hurricane updates via news outlets on the radio or through social media so you know when it is safe to emerge.

Seek Help After a Hurricane – Who to Turn To

Just because the hurricane has passed doesn’t mean you should let your guard down. There are plenty of post-hurricane risks such as exposed power lines, flooded areas, and more. When leaving the property, do so with extreme awareness and caution until safety is restored to the community.

One task that you shouldn’t postpone is filing your property insurance claim. The longer you wait, the more unlikely it will be for your insurance claim to be handled quickly. To advance your recovery process, help yourself by hiring a public adjuster to handle your insurance claim. Hiring your own adjuster will begin the damage tally sooner, will provide an advocate working on your side that guides you forward to assure you of a fair and timely settlement with your insurer once their adjuster ultimately arrives. Public adjusters can help you receive a better offer, faster, on your hurricane insurance claim because the personal service they will provide is far more beneficial to you than an insurance company adjuster who was just assigned hundreds of claims.

Altieri Insurance Consultants Is Here For You Every Step of the Way!

Need help with your hurricane insurance claim? Contact our team of public adjusters today. Don’t settle for a slow, uncertain process, that makes the claim worse than the disaster itself! Leave it to Altieri Insurance Consultants, The Partner Property Owners Can Rely On!