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Hurricane Preparedness Guide
Please read and share this guide with your family and loved ones and contact a AAA Insurance agent if you have any questions or need help finding protection to confidently weather any storm.
Before the Hurricane
June may be the official start of hurricane season but there’s never a wrong time to begin emergency planning and preparation. Here are some of the first steps you’ll want to take in preparing for a hurricane or tropical storm.
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Develop a Plan
Create a family emergency plan including evacuation routes and meeting points should you become separated or lose power. Determine how you’ll stay in touch and consider designating someone from out-of-state as your primary point of contact. Once your evacuation and communication plans are in place, sign up for storm alerts.
The FEMA app allows you to receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service, and find emergency shelters in your area. Stay tuned to local news as well for updates on school closings, sandbag sites, road closures, and emergency supply tips. If you have a pet, be sure to have them microchipped and know a safe place where you can take them if hotels or public shelters don’t allow pets. Once news sources announce the projected path of a tropical storm or hurricane, stores within the cone (i.e., the probable track of the hurricane) are likely to become frenzied. Stock up on non-perishable food, water, and medications for people and pets in advance of storm announcements. Also, prepare a basic first aid kit that contains the following:
· Absorbent compress dressings
· Adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
· Adhesive cloth tape
· Antibiotic and hydrocortisone ointments
· Aspirin
· Antiseptic wipes
· Emergency blanket
· Cold compress
· Nonlatex gloves
· Gauze bandage and sterile gauze pads
· Tweezers
Lastly, gather essential items such as flashlights, batteries, and a battery-powered radio, and have cash on hand in case power outages affect ATMs and card readers. If you have a pet, ensure that their essential supplies (i.e., leashes, carriers, pet pillows, and blankets) are stored conveniently near yours for easy access.
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Prepare Your Home
In preparing your home for a hurricane, you’ll want to begin by:
· Trimming trees and shrubs to reduce potential debris, and clearing your gutters and drains to prevent flooding. Ideally, these preparations should be done at least a month before the start of hurricane season, as professional help can become limited once a storm is announced.
· Purchase plywood to reinforce windows and doors. Plywood supplies can run thin at the peak of storm season, so this is another item worth keeping on hand year-round.
· Learn how to turn off your gas, electricity, and water in case there’s damage to these systems after a storm, or if you need to evacuate.
· Take photo and video inventory of your home, car, and personal belongings before a storm hits, as this can help expedite the insurance process afterward if you need to submit a claim.
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Once a hurricane is approaching:
· Secure any loose outdoor items such as furniture, trash cans, and decorative items or tools.
· Build up a supply of water for sanitary purposes by filling your bathtub, washing machine, and large buckets or containers with water.
· Fill your car’s gas tank and move it to higher ground. If you have a garage, park your car inside the garage against the garage door.
· Unplug electronics—they are vulnerable to lightning strikes – and consider putting surge protectors in place.
· Gather important documents (i.e., legal papers, birth certificates, marriage license, financial papers, and insurance policy information) and place them in a safety deposit box or in fireproof/waterproof safe. If you can’t store original documents safely, make copies of your documents and keep them with you in a waterproof envelope.
· Use a flash drive to store any digital copies of important documents and records, and ensure you have all the passwords to critical accounts stored in a safe place you can access easily.
This information is being provided for general informational purposes only. The Auto Club Group does not assume any liability in connection with providing this information.