Hurricane Preparedness

Hurricane Preparedness

Hurricane Irene served as a wake-up call last year that those of us up in the Northeast can be hit with anything when it comes to weather. Hurricane Isaac has already hit down South and, while it’s not that close to home, we are indeed reminded of Irene. Let’s be better prepared this year in the event that a hurricane does strike! Most severe storms occur between August and October, so what better time to brush up on our hurricane safety and preparedness than now?

How to prepare before the hurricane, some tips from the Travel Channel:

• Learn about emergency shelters in your area and come up with an evacuation plan for your family.
• Check the outside of your home to make sure all items that could blow away are secured and make sure shrubs are trimmed. It’s also a good idea to remove debris from your rain gutters.
• Use storm shutters or board up windows to keep your home secure in the event that a hurricane is coming.
• Make sure your vehicle has enough gas to get you where you need to go if there is a hurricane threat. Also have canned food, first-aid supplies, bottled water, and battery operated flashlights and radio (with extra batteries!) on hand. This will all come in handy in the event that you have to evacuate your home for a longer period of time.

What to do when the hurricane hits:

• Pay close attention to bulletins and updates on the TV and radio. If there are special instructions given or an evacuation is mandated, follow the instructions given by authorities!
• Stay away from any windows. If you can, find a room without windows and if that isn’t possible a closet is best.
• Do not go outside and make sure to secure exterior and interior doors throughout your home.
• Turn off utilities such as water, electricity, and propane tanks if asked to do so by authority.

If you’re worried about a hurricane hitting your home one of the best things you can do is call an Encharter Insurance agent today to discuss your coverage! Our agents can walk you through your current Massachusetts home insurance and talk with you about specialty coverage you may want to look into that can help cover your home. Don’t wait until it’s too late, learn about the right homeowners coverage today!

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