Are You Ready for a Hurricane?

Tampa Bay has been really fortunate, we haven’t had a hurricane hit in over 10 years. However, it’s important that you and your family are prepared in case disaster strikes. The Atlantic Coast hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th. Hurricane Preparedness Week is your time to prepare for a potential tropical storm or hurricane. Do you know your evacuation zone? Develop an evacuation plan, assemble disaster supplies, secure an insurance check-up, and make sure your home is storm ready. Have a plan. Click here to download Hillsborough County’s Disaster Planning Guide.

Here are some helpful hurricane readiness tips:

• Create a hurricane evacuation plan with members of your household. Planning and practicing your evacuation plan minimizes confusion and fear during the event.
• Find out about your community’s hurricane response plan. Plan routes to local shelters, register family members with special medical needs and make plans for your pets to be cared for.
  Obey evacuation orders. Avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges.
• Listen for critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS).
• Check your disaster supplies. Replace or restock as needed.
• Bring in anything that can be picked up by the wind (bicycles, lawn furniture).
• Close your windows, doors, and hurricane shutters. If you do not have hurricane shutters, close and board up all windows and doors with plywood.
• Turn your refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting. Keep them closed as much as possible so that food will last longer if the power goes out.
• Turn off your propane tank.
• Unplug small appliances.
• Fill your car’s gas tank.

Please, remember, standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding. It’s important to have protection from the floods associated with hurricanes, tropical storms, heavy rains and other conditions that impact the U.S. For more information on flood insurance, please visit the National Flood Insurance Program Web site at www.FloodSmart.gov.