With June 1st marking the beginning of Hurricane season, property owners with coastal area exposures are all too aware that the time to prepare for the next storm is now. Many experts predict with the rising water temperatures, globally, this year will be a highly active season, with 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher). 

 Loss modeling provided by the Insurance Information Institute supports that named storms are occurring with higher severity and increasing in frequency along the U.S. Coastline. The best way to avoid property loss and ensure your family’s safety is by having a plan in place and reviewing an annual preparedness plan.

Before a Storm: 

In the weeks before hurricane activity peaks, have your policies and property reviewed and cataloged to ensure you are properly covered. Doing this prior to a storm can save you the stress and grief of putting insurance and inventory information together following a disaster. 

1. Have Property Policies Reviewed — Insurance policies are complicated and vastly different with all sorts of legal and technical language and pages of fine print that could confuse the average consumer. It is beneficial to have insurance policies reviewed and analyzed by an industry professional to ensure that one has the proper coverage for the storm season.
2. Document Property with Photos and/or Video Now – When a consumer suffers property damage and files a claim, the more proof of the pre-damaged property conditions and value of items pre-loss they can provide will make the claims process go much smoother. Consumers should take plenty of photos of their belongings and a video of their property now, prior to the storms. 
3. Keep Copies of Important Documents Safe – It is recommended that property owners make copies of important documents, including insurance policies, and store them in waterproof bags in a safe or secure off-site location. Additionally, in areas that have been hit by hurricanes in the past, it is beneficial to have copies of receipts or other documentation of previous damage repairs. Insurance companies won’t pay for the same damage twice, and consumers may need to prove that they made repairs on previous claims. 
4. Inventory Contents – The contents portion of a claim can be extremely complicated, particularly in large losses. Most people do not keep receipts for many of their contents, thus proving that they had the items they claim can be a challenging task after the damage has occurred. It is suggested that policyholders create a detailed inventory list as soon as possible, before any hurricane-related damage may occur. Check out the Insurance Information Institute’s guide on how to create a home inventory.

Statistically speaking, property owners who keep an up-to-date disaster plan typically have fewer losses and faster claims recovery. Being prepared for the worst-case scenario that you may face as a property owner will assist you in getting back on your feet.

Watch vs. Warning:

Know the difference between a hurricane warning and a hurricane watch. Gauging the severity of a storm can better help you prepare. 

A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible in a specified area and is issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds in an area.

• In the event of a hurricane watch:
  • Listen for weather updates on local stations and on NOAA Weather Radio.
  • Stock up on battery-powered flashlights and a radio. Avoid using candles if you can, especially around children and pets.
  • Review your disaster plan with your family. If you do not have one, make one.
  • Update your emergency supply kit.
  • Gather important papers – insurance, titles, deeds, birth certificates, prescriptions – along with any valuable or irreplaceable objects, like family photos and memorabilia. Place items that you cannot evacuate in watertight containers or seal them in plastic bags.
  • Refill prescriptions and obtain an adequate supply of baby food, diapers, and sanitary needs. Maintain at least a two-week supply of these items and nonperishable food during hurricane season.
  • Clear your yard of potential flying debris, like lawn furniture, potted plants, bicycles, and trash cans.
  • Protect your windows and glass doors.
  • Fill your vehicle’s gas tank and check oil, water, and tires. Gas pumps do not operate without electricity.
  • Secure your boat early. Some drawbridges on evacuation routes may be locked down and closed to boat traffic after an evacuation is ordered.
  • Leave your swimming pool filled and super-chlorinated. Cover your filtration system.
  • Get cash. Banks and ATMs cannot operate without electricity, and stores may not be able to accept credit cards.
  • Take your pets with you or board them at a veterinarian. Evacuate large and exotic animals early. Pets are not allowed in American Red Cross shelters.

A hurricane warning indicates that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the specified area.

• In the event of a hurricane warning:
  • Evacuate if you live in:
    • an area that will be subjected to storm surge.
    • a mobile home
    • a flood-prone area
    • an area where officials have issued an evacuation order.
  • When you evacuate:
    • Evacuate early – evacuation routes will be busy.
    • Take an emergency supply kit with you.
    • Take important papers with you.
    • Tell friends or family where you are going.
    • Don't forget your pets, include their food, papers, and medications in your packing list. 
    • Turn off your electricity, gas and water at their main switches or valves. Do not attempt to turn off gas at a meter.
    • Bring travelers checks since banks and ATMs may be closed or out of cash.

    • Never try to ride out the storm in your car. If it becomes apparent that traffic will prevent you from getting anywhere, seek shelter immediately.

       

During a Storm

If you choose not to evacuate:

• Stay off roads.
• Protect your doors and windows.
• Store drinking water in clean containers and your bathtub. You may lose public utilities for weeks following a hurricane.
• Stay inside and away from windows, skylights, and glass doors. Find a safe area in your home – an interior, reinforced room, closet, or bathroom on the lower floor.
• Turn off major appliances, such as air conditioners and hot water heaters, to reduce damage if you lose power.
• Turn off the electricity at the main fuse box if flooding threatens your home.
• Be aware of your surroundings and be prepared to locate to an upper floor quickly. Flooding by tidal surge is a leading cause of death and destruction in hurricanes.
• Consider purchasing a portable generator, especially if someone in the household is on oxygen or other electrically powered medical equipment. If you do choose to use a generator, please follow all instructions and safety precautions. Do not operate it indoors as this may lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Do not go outside. Once the eye of the storm passes over your area, there will be a brief period of calm. However, on the other side of the eye, wind speed will increase rapidly to hurricane force and will come from the opposite direction. There may be flying debris.
• Avoid standing water and debris, there could be spilled chemicals, downed power lines, or other dangerous materials. 

Remember that hurricanes often spawn tornadoes during and after the main storm. Keep your home property inventory up to date and store it in a safe location that you will be able to access even if your home is damaged or destroyed.

After a hurricane blows through, non-coastal areas should be on the alert for residual effects.

More information is available from:

• The National Hurricane Center

• Ready.gov Hurricanes page

After a Storm

Insurance companies are put to the test of client expectations after large-scale weather events. Most insurance companies are well-equipped to have claims adjusters and servicing staff rallied for large client response and the need for ‘feet on the ground’ to adjust damages. Client advocacy and empathy is just as important as swift and efficient action to ensure that damage is evaluated and future property loss is avoided through repairs. There are also recommendations on where to start and what actions to take first:

• Is your home secure and structurally sound after a heavy storm?
  • If wind has blown out windows, toppled trees, dropped branches, power lines or other debris onto or into the house, only leave the structure if it is safe to do so.
  • If the power is out in your area, call your power provider to establish a work order.
• Did your roof or perimeter windows sustain damage where rain and debris can enter the home?
  • After the storm, you should call an emergency restoration or water mitigation company to board up your home, tarp the roof, or clean the interior to avoid additional damages to the home’s interior. Keep all receipts as your insurance company will evaluate paying the costs for temporary materials purchased to prevent additional damage to your home, including emergency repairs or mitigation services.
• Do you suspect hail damage –but show no signs of physical damage to the roof, fence or gutters?
  • A strong suggestion is to seek an independent roofer or contractor that you have worked with, trust, or has done superior work in your neighborhood – offer a complimentary damage evaluation of your roof and property. After a large wind or hail event, roofing companies are scheduled and working repair/replacement jobs for months – so finding a reliable contractor is important.

Some things to look out for with regard to large-scale events where Roofers and Contractors may proactively solicit homeowners:

1. Do not give any unsolicited party access to your roof. Some roofing companies hire individuals to cold-call and sell roof replacements, on site. The common goal is to tell you that your roof should be replaced. The roofer may not have any insurance, making for an increased liability risk if someone falls off of your roof and sustains injuries. Always ask for a current insurance policy declarations page to show evidence of general liability insurance or workers compensation coverage.
2. Do not sign anything from someone who gives you a roof estimate. Many times this is a trap. If your roof has to be replaced, you may have contractually signed an agreement to only use that inspection company for the repair or replacement. Don't limit yourself to the first company you talk with regarding repairs or roof replacement.
3. Don't file a claim until you know that your roof is truly damaged. Simply opening a claim can count against your claims history if you try to use the insurance adjuster as an inspector; even if nothing is paid out.  The goal is to stay invisible with an insurance company until a loss is confirmed and a claim is warranted.
4. Do not make the assumption that in every weather event impacting your neighborhood, that your roof is damaged. Don't assume that if two other neighbors say they are having their roofs replaced, that your roof will need to be replaced as well. They may have let that ethically challenged, roof salesman get on their roof.
5. Call a local, reputable roofer who has been in business for a few years, and check their rating on the Better Business Bureau: www.bbb.org/central-texas/foundation. There are many companies that travel out of state, just to solicit roof jobs. And if they are not local, it is hard to hold them accountable to good workmanship and warranties. Many roofing companies do not stay in business very long. You want to work with someone who will be there next year if something needs further attention. Do your homework on a roofing company, and have 2-3 companies studied and ready to call prior to a storm in your area.
6. If your roof does need to be replaced but you have no leaks in the roof, wait! There is no prize for being the first in the neighborhood with a new roof. Hail is heaviest in April through August, but high winds and damaging hail can occur at any time with the right storm conditions. 

Whether you’re experiencing clear skies, monitoring a storm, or facing recovery, our team is here to help. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation.