How to prepare for a hurricane

Homeowners in hurricane-prone areas should stay on top of weather reports and their insurance policies.  As hurricanes grow more powerful and less predictable, being proactive can make all the difference when it comes to protecting your home, your family, and your financial future.

“It’s important to keep in mind that even one major hurricane can do catastrophic damage and it’s important to be prepared just in case one strikes,” says Bonnie Schneider, meteorologist for The Weather Channel and author of “Extreme Weather.”

From understanding storm alerts to securing emergency supplies, the steps you take before a hurricane hits can help you recover faster—and with fewer out-of-pocket costs—if disaster strikes. Below are tips from insurance and weather experts on surviving a hurricane.

Hurricane preparation tips for homeowners

If you live in a hurricane-prone part of the country, it’s important to be prepared well ahead of time. Waiting until a hurricane is approaching will likely lead to long lines and empty shelves at stores.

The same applies to your insurance. Flood insurance has a 30-day waiting period, and many insurance companies put a moratorium on writing new coverage in the days leading up to a hurricane making landfall.

The tips below will help you ensure you and your coverage are ready for hurricane season.

What to do before a hurricane

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, peaking in September. But you should take action before then to ensure you and your family are prepared if and when disaster strikes. Here’s how:

Understand hurricane alerts

Hurricane watches and warnings are issued by the National Hurricane Center, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 

• Hurricane watch: A hurricane watch alert is issued when hurricane conditions are possible. These alerts go off 48 hours before tropical storm winds (39 to 73 mph) are expected to begin. 
• Hurricane warning: The more serious of the two alerts, hurricane warnings are issued when hurricane-force winds are expected within a specific radius. They are usually issued 36 hours before tropical storm winds are expected. 

You can find the latest information on tropical weather as well as tips and advice at Weather.gov, as well as from local news outlets.

Storm-proof your home

You can take steps to prepare your home for tropical winds and potential flooding. Be sure to let your home insurance company know about any structural improvements you make, as mitigation efforts can result in potential discounts. 

• Install storm shutters on windows, glass doors and skylights.
• Reinforce your roof with hurricane straps and clips to secure it against high winds.
• Reinforce your garage doors with thicker brackets.
• Install a generator in case you lose power.
• Trim or take down trees that could cause damage to your home. 
• Secure outdoor furniture or store it inside in a safe area. 
• Clean gutters and downspouts.
• Seal any openings to your home.  

Have emergency supplies stocked year-round

If you have a flashlight, water, a first aid kit and batteries stashed away for emergencies, and think you’re ready for the next disaster, you’re not alone. You’re also not fully prepared.

Ready.gov provides a full list of the items you should have in your basic emergency preparedness kit, including:

• Water and non-perishable food
• A radio
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Flashlights
• A whistle to signal for help
• Dust masks
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape
• Moist towelettes and garbage bags
• A manual can opener
• Maps
• A cell phone with backup battery and a charger

Additional items include:

• Prescription and non-prescription medications
• Soap, hand sanitizer and disinfectant
• Infant supplies
• Blankets
• Cash or traveler’s checks
• Feminine supplies
• Matches

Make sure you’ve gathered this in a place that will be easily accessible when a hurricane hits.

Have an evacuation plan

Sometimes, extreme weather situations require residents to evacuate their homes by choice or government order. A few preparations in advance can make this process much easier.

• Identify evacuation zones: Before a storm, local officials will determine evacuation zones based on the likelihood that an area will flood due to the storm surge, or projected rise in sea level from a hurricane. Know what zone you live in and monitor local news to stay up to date in case you need to evacuate.
• Find local shelters: You should also find out where the closest public emergency shelters are located. You can check the FEMA app for a list of current shelters or text the word “SHELTER” and your ZIP code to 43362. The Red Cross website also lists currently open shelters. Different shelters have different requirements. For example, if you have a pet, make sure the shelter allows animals. 
• Establish transportation plans: Hurricanes can result in road closures and create transit obstacles. Make sure you have an established evacuation route in mind before the storm and monitor local news during the storm for updates on road conditions. 
• Create a family plan: Does your workplace have a disaster plan? Does your child’s school have a plan? Will they shelter in place? Disasters can strike when your family members are not with you. Find out what plans are in place for other locations.

“Have an evacuation plan and knowledge of local evacuation routes and shelters. Prepare medicines, important information, and phone numbers, including your insurance information, and fill your car with gas,” says Christie Alderman, vice president of product innovation and development at Chubb Insurance

Insurance considerations for hurricane risk

It’s essential to have the proper insurance coverage ahead of hurricane season, especially if you live in a high-risk area. Here’s what you need to know.

Hurricane damage and home insurance

Home insurance typically covers wind damage, but it excludes flooding. Depending on where you live and what type of home insurance policy you have, you may need additional coverage, and a hurricane deductible may be applied to your claim.  

Here’s how standard home insurance coverages work when it comes to hurricane wind damage. Coverage amounts and limits will vary by policy. 

• Dwelling coverage: Helps cover the cost to repair or rebuild your home if it’s damaged by hurricane winds – for example, if strong gusts send a tree crashing onto your roof. 
• Other structures coverage: Helps cover the cost to repair or rebuild damaged, detached structures on your property, such as a garage, shed or gazebo. 
• Personal property coverage: Helps cover the cost to repair or replace damaged personal belongings in your home.
• Loss of use coverage: Helps pay for additional living expenses while you’re temporarily displaced, including hotel stays, meals, transportation, pet lodging, and more.

Review your policy and purchase more coverage

Some hurricane-prone states exclude wind coverage if you live within a certain radius of the coast. If that’s the case, check with your carrier about whether you need to purchase windstorm insurance to supplement your home insurance policy. 

“I recommend that homeowners discuss their coverage with their agents once a year, even if nothing has changed. The renewal period is the best time to do that because the topic is fresh on everyone’s mind,”  says Ray Altieri Jr., president at Tampa-based Altieri Transco American Claims. 

“Policyholders should review their renewal package and be sure to question their agent about any changes that are proposed for the new year of coverage, so they have a general understanding of matters. Homeowners also need to be aware that any changes to the property should be reported to their agent to be sure coverage is not altered in any way by a property’s physical or occupancy change,” adds Altieri.

Get flood insurance

Home insurance never covers flood damage. If you want financial protection against damages caused by flooding, you’ll need flood insurance. Flood insurance is important coverage, even if you don’t live along a coastline, because flooding can strike almost anywhere. 

“It seems like no place is safe recently,” says Jeffrey O’Connor, vice president at Alex N. Sill Adjustment Company. and president of the National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (NAPIA).  

“We all know the coastal areas of the south and southeast are most susceptible to hurricane damage of flooding and wind, but it is not uncommon to have hurricane-force winds extending hundreds of miles inland. Remember that a hurricane often brings with it large amounts of rain even hundreds of miles away from the coastal area it originally strikes. Rivers, streams, and creeks can overflow, causing tremendous damage.” 

Understand hurricane deductibles

Most home insurance policies include a deductible, which is the amount you must pay out of pocket before your coverage kicks in. Deductibles commonly range from $500 to $2,500, depending on the insurer. 

However, some insurance companies in hurricane-prone states impose a separate, more pricey deductible, called a named storm deductible. This is typically set at a percentage of your coverage limit, like 1% to 5%, and applies to damages caused by a named tropical storm or hurricane, according to the NAIC. For example, if your deductible is 2% and your house is insured at $350,000, $7,000 will be deducted from your claim payout. 

Named storm deductibles vary by insurer and may apply per event, per season or per year. According to the NAIC, Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., allow for named storm deductibles.

Check with your insurance company and state Department of Insurance to learn more about named storm deductible requirements where you live.

Post-hurricane safety measures

Here are some steps to take after a hurricane. 

• If you evacuated, do not return home until officials announce that it is safe to. 
• Do not drive on flooded or closed roads.
• Once you return home, be careful of any downed power lines or potential safety risks inside the home. Do not enter if it seems unsafe.
• Document the damage to your home with pictures or videos. 
• Contact your insurance company to file a claim.
• Contact a public adjuster if you want a second opinion. Public adjusters work on your behalf, not the insurance company. They can help you negotiate a claim payout if you feel you’ve been shorted. 

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