In any year, there are usually 12 storms, 6 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes.
Depending on where you live, you might be more prone to experiencing a hurricane than others are. Even if you don’t live somewhere that typically gets hurricanes, you never know if an anomaly will happen.
This is why it’s important you know what in case of a hurricane disaster. That way, it won’t be as stressful when you’re already panicked about the weather, your property, and your safety.
Before disaster strikes, know what to do so you’re prepared. Here are the 5 steps you need to take after there’s been a hurricane in your area.
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1Make Sure Everyone’s Safe
The very first thing you want to do is to stay put, even if you feel like the hurricane’s over and it’s safe. You’ll want to turn on the TV or radio, or check your phone to see if the authorities have given the all-clear to come out of your home or shelter.
When it’s safe to come out, make sure everyone’s accounted for and safe. If anyone is hurt, perform first aid; this can be done before coming out of your house or shelter.
After the all-clear, you can then proceed with transporting those who need medical help to the hospital. For those who have evacuated, you can return home as well. But only do this if you’re 100% sure it’s safe to be outside.
If you have loved ones who are not with you, you’ll want to make sure they’re ok. After a natural disaster phone lines are usually tied up. So use text and social media to communicate with one another in a more efficient manner.
2Inspect Your Property and Make Reports
Chances are, there has been lots of wreckage in the wake of the hurricane. This presents many new hazards, some of which are very dangerous to be around.
Take a walk around the perimeter of your home to check for these new hazards, which can be:
- Loose or downed power lines
- Gas leaks
- Broken water mains
- Structural damage
Make sure you stay safe while doing this. You’ll want to wear gloves, love-sleeved clothing, and waterproof boots. Try to stay out of floodwater as much as you can. It might be hiding debris and it can conduct electricity from downed power lines.
Once you make note of any of these things, report them to the proper authorities. This ensures that they’re aware of these issues and will come to fix them as soon as possible.
If you have structural damage on your property, take as many pictures as you can. This will come in handy when you file your insurance claim.
3File an Insurance Claim
Should you be one of the unlucky ones to sustain considerable damage from a hurricane, you’ll want to file a claim with your insurance company. So you need to call up your insurance company so they can schedule an adjuster to come to your home.
If there are immediate hazards, notify your insurance company. They’ll be able to send a professional out and reimburse you for those services (keep your receipts!).
For the adjuster, you’ll want to give them your home inventory. If you don’t already have one, sit down and make one, complete with any receipts you might have.
4Clean up Safely
Once you’ve spoken with your insurance company, you’ll want to clean up your property as best you can to mitigate hurricane damage. Do note that if you come across damaged items, don’t throw them away. The adjuster will need to document these things.
Make sure you’re dressed appropriately for cleanup. This includes waterproof boots and gloves, goggles, hard hat, and a protective mask if you’re going to be removing mold.
Open up all the doors and windows so you can drop the humidity level inside as best as you can. You’ll want to create piles of salvageable and unsalvageable items.
Dry items and areas by scrubbing, mopping, and running fans and dehumidifiers. If you spot any mold, you’ll want to disinfect and sanitize those surfaces. You can use a mix of 1:1 bleach and water to do so.
5Get in Touch With a Hurricane Lawyer
Many people don’t think to do this, but it’s a wise choice to get in touch with a hurricane lawyer. This can be especially helpful if your insurance denies your claim or only pay out a fraction of what you need.
You might think that just because the insurance adjuster is a professional, that you should trust their word 100%. But you need to keep in mind that insurance companies are businesses.
The best business model for them is to take in as much money as possible, and pay out as little as possible. So don’t expect them to be looking out for you at all.
What you need is a good hurricane lawyer on your side. They’ll know exactly how to get you the money you deserve so you can recover as best as you can from this devastating hurricane.
While you’ll have to pay to take legal action, the amount of money you can potentially end up with in the end can be well worth it. Make sure you’re well compensated to handle the costs of hurricane aftermath by consulting with hurricane lawyers.
Be Prepared for a Hurricane Disaster
A hurricane disaster isn’t something anyone wants to go through. Unfortunately, it’s a very real possibility for some, especially those who live in tropic areas.
So don’t be caught unawares. Make sure you know exactly what to do in the event of a hurricane so you can get through it with as little trouble as possible. Keep this article in mind for a less stressful time!
Now that you know what to do for hurricane protection, browse the rest of our blog section for more helpful information.
