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Getting
Ready For A Hurricane
Your
Home, What To Do Before Hurricane Season
Hurricane
Supplies
Hurricane
Watch Planning
Hurricane
Warning Planning
Hurricane
Protection Products
During
A Hurricane
After
The Hurricane Passes
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1. PETS
Check with your veterinarian about whether you need to take any special precautions especially with an exotic or sick pet.
- Shelters do not accept pets. If you're going to board your pet, make arrangements immediately with local kennels.
- Call your veterinarian or the Humane Society for a list of kennels.
- Pets should have collars with current identification and rabies tags. All yearly vaccinations should be administered.
- Don't tranquilize your pets.
2. BOATS
Boats are vulnerable during a hurricane. You can minimize damage by following these safety precautions:
- Make sure your boat is watertight and in sound condition. Absentee owners should arrange a supervised inspection.
- If you keep your boat on a trailer, check with the manufacturer about the best way to secure your boat during a storm.
- Consider moving arrangements in advance. Check the size and strength of the deck hardware (primary chocks, cleats, bitts, bollards, winches). Hurricane moorings should have double lines.
- Purchase necessary hurricane materials such as additional mooring lines, crew anchors, fenders, fender boards, chafing gear and anchors.
- Check your marina contract for policies and procedures for hurricane conditions. Most require evacuation.
- Ask local marine and law enforcement agencies for evacuation plans. Bridges over waterways may be locked down for land evacuation routes.
- If you plan to seek safe harbor inland, remember that water management officials discourage using the Miami River or drainage canals. Boats may damage or block flood control devices.
- Know your route if you plan to evacuate by boat. Be aware of navigation requirements and restrictions along the route. NOTE: Marine experts say that you should move your boat at least 48 hours before a hurricane is expected to hit the area.
- Rehearse your boat movement plan.
- Make sure your insurance policy is current.
- Record and keep your boat's registration number, description and location with you.
- Keep current photographs or videos of your boat.
For more information on marine-related issues, call your local Emergency Management Office.
3. INSURANCE
- Before hurricane season starts each year, you should review your insurance coverage with your agent. Insurance policies provided by the JUA are more expensive than those issued by other companies, but they are available as a last resort before a hurricane hits, if you don't have homeowner's insurance. Other insurance companies may not want to provide insurance once a hurricane is within striking distance.
- Make sure you have adequate coverage, especially if you have made any additions to your home, have expensive items or have had you property value increase.
- Check your policy for windstorm and flood coverage. Make sure your standard homeowner's policy covers windstorm damage caused by wind or hail. Consider purchasing flood insurance if your home is in a flood zone as determined by the National Flood Insurance Program. Since there is an automatic five-day waiting period for flood insurance, purchasing flood insurance should be done before hurricane season.
- Know what your policy does and doesn't cover. Review your policy for deductible, exclusion and coverage information including: relocation, temporary living expenses and personal injury. Standard homeowners' policies usually limit coverage on valuable jewelry, silver and guns.
- Update your list of personal belongings. Maintain a current room-by-room inventory, including: serial numbers, purchase dates and cost of valuables. If your home is damaged or destroyed, it will be hard to remember details. Since your insurance company may require proof of cost, attach receipts to the inventory list. Videotapes or photographs are a good way to document your personal inventory.
- Safeguard your records. Keep a copy of your policy and your inventory records in a safe deposit box. Make two copies; keep one in a fireproof home vault and give the other to a friend or relative. If your property is damaged, you will need quick access to this information.
For more information on insurance coverage, call Florida's toll-free Insurance Consumer Help line at 1-800-342-2762 or 1-800-528-7094.
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