Protecting Your Home From Hurricane Damage

(ARA) - Despite the increase in force and numbers of hurricanes, the popularity of owning a home near the waterfront is increasing. Properly protecting your home, whether it's your primary residence or a vacation home, may be one of the most important precautions you take this hurricane season.

According to Chris Heidrick, vice president of Personal Insurance at Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, early preparation is the best way to defend yourself and your residence against the elements. "Advance preparation is vital in surviving hurricane season. Preparation means not just trying to mitigate damage, but also being prepared to deal with any damage that does occur. We encourage our customers to rely on the expertise of their independent insurance agent."

Following are a few key tips to effectively reduce damage:

Act in advance:

• Have your home inspected and assess the potential risk before a hurricane strikes. Check with your insurance company to see if they offer risk management advisory services, or hire a professional service to advise you.

• Shutters are a key defense against wind damage. Be sure that all glass openings and non-glass entry doors are protected with approved shutters. Shutters come in a variety of styles and costs - work with a professional to determine the best shutter for your home.

• Having a back-up generator to run the air conditioner and dehumidifier in the event of rain or flood damage is critical in order to avoid excess moisture that can lead to future problems with mold on precious items such as oriental rugs and fine paintings. A back-up generator is also helpful if you need to live in your home after a storm, if you have electric roll-down shutters or an expensive wine collection that needs to be in a temperature-controlled setting.

• Because pipes often burst during a storm, set up a water cut-off system to automatically shut off the water if excess water is detected in the home.

• Secure all outdoor items or move them indoors. Unsecured outdoor furniture and other objects become dangerous projectiles in hurricanes.

• It pays to identify local, dependable contractors well before a hurricane hits as reliable contractors are in high demand and short supply after a major storm.

If your vacation home is in a hurricane zone, and you aren't nearby during hurricane season:

• Have a trusted friend or reliable paid caretaker secure your home and ensure necessary precautions are taken.

• Make sure this person knows critical factors about your home - where gas and water shut-off valves are as well as how to put up your shutters. Also provide your caretakers with a complete inventory of your home's contents, emergency contact numbers for both you and your insurance agent, and a detailed schematic for shutter placement.

• The caretaker should conduct an inspection of your home within 24 hours after a hurricane - so any water infiltration and other damage can be properly attended to.

Have Emergency Supplies on Hand

Hurricane supplies should be in your house especially during the May through November peak hurricane season. Some common sense items include enough food for a week or so, bottled water and first aid supplies. But there are some additional items that you might not think of immediately that are just as important.

During a storm, you want to know what's going on and what's coming your way. Here are some ideas for keeping up-to-date on critical information:

• A battery-operated/hand-crank radio means you won't have to rely on electricity to get your information; and for every 60 turns on the hand crank, you add an additional hour if your batteries run out.

• A NOAA (National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration) Weather Radio. NOAA's national weather service staff prepare and produce Weather Radio broadcasts with the most up-to-date information available. You can find receivers for Weather Radio broadcasts at many retail outlets, including electronics, department, sporting goods and boat and marine stores or catalogs.

• In a storm, a hard-wired/land-line telephone that plugs into a standard jack may be more useful than a cell phone. If cell phone towers are damaged, your service could be interrupted, while land-line phones get their power from the phone company, which has emergency generators that kick in during a power outage.

Once you know what's going on, you'll want to turn your attention to creature comforts. Assuming you've already taken care of food and water, and the portable generator already mentioned, here are some other handy supplies:

• A battery-powered fan will keep you comfortable in warm weather.

• Glow-in-the-dark sticks provide nonflammable, non-spark, portable lighting. As an added benefit, they'll entertain the kids. You'll also want to make sure all your flashlights have fresh batteries to see you through the storm.

• Keep a fire extinguisher handy in case of any storm-related fires.

Filing your claim:

If your home is damaged, you'll want to be prepared so your insurance claim can be handled quickly and smoothly.

• Work with your insurance agent to determine the best coverage for you and understand exactly what your insurance covers - flood damage and storm surges are not usually covered by a standard homeowner's insurance policy. Fortunately, insurance companies such as Fireman's Fund now offer optional, private coverage solutions for floods that go beyond what Federal flood insurance covers. Because tropical storms often drop over a foot of rain well inland, even homeowners who live outside of flood zones should look into flood insurance.

• Videotape the exterior and interior of the residence and create an inventory documenting all contents and possessions. If this task seems too daunting, work with a professional.

• If your home has been damaged by a hurricane or other strong storm, conduct an inspection within 24 hours or as soon as it is safe.

• Contact your insurance agent immediately if there has been any damage. If you can't get through, contact the insurance company directly. Most have toll-free numbers for catastrophe situations.

• Rely on your insurance agent as a good source for finding reliable contractors and advising you on what a fair price for repairs is.

Caution is key:

The best way to lessen damage from a hurricane and ensure speedy claims handling afterwards is to make the effort to prepare well before a hurricane strikes.

Article courtesy of ARA Content