Hurricanes can cause catastrophic losses within a matter of minutes, with the heavy rainfall, strong winds, flooding, and storm surges that they bring. The devastating effects of hurricanes to your property can cause thousands of dollars in repairs and mitigation, which makes efficient and effective disaster preparation a necessity.
While water and flood damage from hurricanes could be handled by expert restoration companies, preparing ahead will protect majority of your property as well as keep your family safe from potential dangers. Read these tips compiled by ServiceMaster by Reed.
How to Prepare for a Hurricane
Know your risk.
- Determine your area's susceptibility to hurricanes and flooding. Generally, Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastal areas, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii, parts of the Southwest, the Pacific Coast and the U.S. territories of the Pacific are often visited by hurricanes.
- Check the interactive flood map of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to know your community's flood risk.
Educate yourself on what to do before, during and after a hurricane.
- Visit Ready.gov for a detailed list of steps to take at the event of a hurricane and discuss them with your family.
- Familiarize yourself with hurricane watches and warnings.
- Know what to do when there is a need to evacuate or move to a higher floor or ground.
Secure a flood insurance policy.
- Basic homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Without a flood damage insurance policy, homeowners would have to pay thousands of dollars for restoration and repairs after a hurricane or flooding event.
- Check the government's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for insights about purchasing a flood insurance policy.
Create an emergency kit.
- In a waterproof and lightweight container, stock three days' worth of non-perishable food, bottled water, batteries, flashlights, first aid supplies and medication, pet supplies and anything else you may need. Include items for protecting your health, such as masks and sanitizers.
- Place your emergency kit in an accessible area in case there is a need to evacuate.
Prepare your home.
- Reduce the risk of damage by reinforcing your roof, walls, windows and doors.
- Secure outdoor items and remove those that can be carried away by high winds and potentially damage your home.
- Waterproof your basement and elevate critical utilities to protect them from floods.
Build a safe room.
- Check if your local community has a safe room or build one yourself according to the safe practices and guidance provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Create an emergency communication plan.
- It's important for your family to maintain a solid communication line in case you get separated during evacuation.
- To create a good communication plan, go to ready.gov/make-a-plan.
Learn about your community.
- Check if your community has pre-existing hurricane evacuation routes and secondary escape routes.
- Also take note of your community's hurricane shelters for refuge during a disaster.
Stay informed.
- Tune in to the National Weather Service (NWS) to get the latest updates about the hurricane watches and warnings in your area.
- Sign up for your community's email or text alert systems to get notified about emergencies.
Practice your plan.
- Discuss and practice the plans you have created ahead of time so that your family members will know exactly what to do before a hurricane strikes.
- As you practice, think about how you can assist in emergency situations. Consider learning first aid and emergency response to help others.
If you’ve made the necessary precautions but still find yourself having to deal with water or flood damage, call a professional to mitigate losses and perform repairs.
Contact Us for Water Damage Restoration in Dothan, Alabama
Water or flood damage emergency? ServiceMaster by Reed offers 24-hour emergency services in Dothan, Alabama and the surrounding areas. We are a preferred insurance vendor, certified by the IICRC and utilize state-of-the-art equipment and cleaning products.
- To discover more, call ServiceMaster by Reed at (334) 712-1118 or connect with us online.
- We are located at 2830 Horace Shepard Road, Suite 1, Dothan, AL 36303.
An independent franchise business licensed to serve you by ServiceMaster Restore®.