Hurricane Preparedness Week: Review Your Insurance & Important Documents

5/13/2021 (Permalink)

Review your insurance policies & gather copies of ID's and insurance info before hurricane season begins.

It’s Day 3 of Hurricane Preparedness Week and we are focusing on a step that’s extremely important for Florida residents - review and gather important documents, and examine your insurance policies to verify what’s covered for storm and water damage.

As Gainesville area storm and water damage restoration experts, we work hand in hand with your insurance company if you incur any damage to your home or business after a hurricane or other major storm event. It’s crucial to know exactly what your policy covers specifically regarding hurricanes, what your hurricane deductible is (the amount you’re responsible for upfront before your insurance kicks in), and whether or not you need a separate flood insurance policy.

You can learn about your flood risk and flood insurance options in your area at floodsmart.gov. We've done jobs after adverse weather events all over the tri county area from Cedar Key on the Gulf Coast, to flood damage on riverfront properties, all the way to helping out in the Saint Augustine area after they received significant hurricane damage in recent hurricane seasons. 

Once you have your insurance coverage in place, print hard copies and place them in a waterproof storage (such as a Rubbermaid tote) with your other storm supplies, and also securely upload them where you can access them online. You want to have easy access to your insurance company’s phone number and your policy number if you need to file a claim after the storm. Keep in mind phone service and Internet service may be disrupted, and make sure to take this information with you if you evacuate ahead of the storm. 

You can find more tips for reviewing your insurance policies and preparing your home for hurricane season at https://www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane-plan. Remember, the best time to prepare is ahead of hurricane season, which starts June 1st. Don’t wait until we get that first hurricane warning!

Hurricane Preparedness Week previous posts:

Day 1: Create Your Family or Business Emergency Plan

Day 2: Build Your Emergency Supplies Kit

We are sharing hurricane prep tips all week - check back here and follow us on Facebook, twitter and Instagram for more helpful info. If you do experience storm or water damage, we are always here to help at (352)374-6589!