02 Jun Beware: It’s Officially Hurricane Season

Yesterday marked the first day of what is expected to be a more active than usual hurricane season. Lasting until November 30^th, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative believes this season will see 12 to 18 named storms with six to 10 becoming hurricanes, and three to six of those major hurricanes.

According to forecasters, there are several factors that may contribute to making this hurricane season an above average one. Currently, we are still in an era of more active storm seasons; water surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean are higher than normal, and a weakening La Nina is make its presence felt by weakening wind shear.

With hurricane season expected to be especially bad, there are some steps you should take and ways to prepare in order to be ready if a hurricane hits your area.

The most important thing to do is be prepared. It is said that while help is always on the way after a hurricane, residents need to be able to support themselves for the first 72 hours after a storm.  There are several steps that can be taken to get you ready before and to help support yourself for those long hard hours after.

• Check your home insurance immediately to ensure that you have the proper coverage in case damage does occur from a hurricane. Homeowner’s insurance policies can take as long as a month to go into effect once purchased. Once that month is up, you’re covered. Some companies previously would not cover your home if a storm was named during the waiting period. But that is no longer the case. Those in the market to buy homeowner’s insurance should purchase their policy as soon as they can to be protected if a hurricane does make landfall.
• Start checking all facilities for low hanging branches by the roofs and windows and start getting things cleaned up.    
• Determine safe evacuation routes.
• Learn locations of official shelters.
• Check emergency equipment (flashlights, generators, battery-powered equipment).
• Store non-perishable foods and drinking water.
• Make sure you have all of your important paperwork, including copies of your insurance policies, in a safe and dry place where they cannot be damaged.
• If you have pets, make sure you have a plan for them as they aren’t allowed at shelters such as the Red Cross. Be sure they have their proper identification tags along with sturdy leashes, harnesses, and carriers.
• In an evacuation, do not leave pets behind. It is considered abondonment, which is illegal!

Call Spivey Insurance Group today for more information on North Carolina insurance and how you can be prepared for weather emergencies, or visit our website to learn more.