What to Do Before and After the Storm

Before Storm Season

• Inventory your house and itemize your possessions.  Make a copy for yourself and another copy to give to a relative or friend who does not live in storm prone areas.
• Ask your Insurance Agent for a Household Inventory Brochure.
• Describe your possessions by brand, model, serial number, value and age.
• Consider taking pictures of your home and possessions with a video camera to document your property.
• Review your homeowner, flood, and windstorm policies, noting your agent’s name and telephone number.
• Check your storm shutters to be sure that they are in good repair.  If you have no shutters, consider purchasing plywood cut to fit your window and door openings.
• Maintain temporary repair items such as roofing paper, nails and plywood etc.  These items are more readily available before a storm threatens.
• Review your evacuation route if you live in evacuation areas.
• Decide what to do with pets if you need to evacuate.  Only Seeing Eye dogs are allowed in storm shelters.
• Consider whether your household will need a generator if you are without power for a number of days.

When a Storm Is Threatening

• Monitor local radio and television stations for announcements from your  Insurance Company.
• Put all important papers into a safe place.  (Insurance policies, home contents inventory, marriage and birth certificates, etc.)
• Stock your home with canned goods, liquid bleach, a battery operated radio, flashlights, fresh batteries, candles, matches, manual can opener, and bottled water.
• Make sure that the vehicle you normally drive has a full tank of fuel.
• Bring inside all outdoor furniture, potted plants, cooking grilles, trashcans or any other items which may become wind borne missiles.
• Bleach your bathtubs, seal the drains, and fill the tubs with fresh water.
• Get extra prescription medicine.
• Take steps to assure that you and your family will be in a safe place during the storm.

After the Storm

• Inspect your property for storm damage.
• Protect your exposed property from further damage.
• Locate your Homeowners Insurance Policy.
• Report your claim for damages to your Insurance Agent or Call the Claims Call Center.
• If your home is not livable, let your Insurance Agent know how to reach you at your temporary quarters. 
• Save any receipts that support your extra living expense in the aftermath of the storm. 
• Prepare a detailed list of your damaged property to use during discussions with your company’s claims representative.
• Do not dispose of any damaged property without the concurrence of your claims representative.
• If you have to use a contractor for temporary repairs to protect your property, be sure to save receipts.
• If you utilize a contractor, make sure that he/she is licensed in your state.
• Request a copy of an itemized estimate from your contractor.