The best time to protect yourself, your family and your property in the event of a severe weather alert, is BEFORE it happens. Preparedness is everything.
Here are some easy simple steps that you can do ahead of time that will assist you and your family in most disaster situations when the time comes.
- Build an emergency supply kit – Include items of non-perishable food, water, a battery-powered radio, cell-phone chargers, extra flashlights and batteries. Even consider including a pair of goggles and disposable breathing masks for each family member.
- Make a plan – A Family Emergency Plan, if and when an occurrence strikes and you’re not all together, you need to determine a way to contact each other and how you will get back together.
- Know the flood prone areas – If you live or work in a flood prone area, check with your local emergency management system (FEMA) for evacuation plan details. Make yourself familiar with the local evacuation routes.
- Determine locations to seek shelter – Whether it’s your basement, closet or your town’s local shelter, you need to know where you’re going to go.
- Make your home disaster ready – Elevate items in the basement, bring in outdoor items such as children’s toys, patio furniture and garbage cans. Things that can blow around and cause damage. Remove dead tree branches and rotting trees that could come down and cause damage.
- Know where all your utilities shutoffs are – Besides the electrical, you need to know where the shutoffs are for your water and gas as well. Also, have the proper tools ready nearby.
- Knowing your insurance – Find out what types of events and the kinds of damages that are covered by your policy. Keep insurance policies and other important documents in a safe and secure location.
- Fire extinguishers – Keep them easily accessible and up to date. Make sure everyone knows how to use them.
- Make arrangements for your pet – In the event you have to seek shelter, most do not allow pets other than service animals in their shelter. Have a fallback plan for your pet. Do not leave them behind.
- Devise an emergency family contact list – This is to notify any family members to as your whereabouts.
Hopefully you will never have to put this pre-plan into action, but in the event you do, you are now ready for what comes your way. Most severe storms occur suddenly and without much warning and it is always a good idea to have a plan to put into action when time is limited and important. However, if you are in a situation where there is no time to execute your disaster plan and an immediate evacuation is called; here is an evacuation plan guide that you should follow.
Here at Donald J. Medeiros Insurance Agency our goal is to try to help our viewers by suggesting solutions for all insurance needs. By no means can we address each reader’s specific concerns in every incident. So, we strongly advise to check with an insurance representative to address your specific needs. However, you can also contact us for any questions or concerns and we will be happy to help you. We are able to offer a complete line of personal & commercial insurance products for all of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
Come visit us at www.donmedeirosinsurance.com or give us a call at 508-678-1271. We look forward to hearing from you! If you have a Facebook account, fan us at http://www.facebook.com/donmedeiros.