THE EYE OF THE STORM:
Preparing for Hurricane Season

When warm weather is here, the time is right for sun, picnics and...hurricanes?  June officially marks the beginning of hurricane season.  One of nature's most devastating hazards, hurricanes, have the ability to wreak havoc on communities, homes and businesses.  Actually tropical storms or hurricanes can have winds that blow in excess of several hundred miles per hour, which move in a large spiral around a relatively calm center known as the "eye".  This eye is generally 20-30 miles wide, and serves as the focal point of storms that can extend outward more than 400 miles.  This allows expansive areas to be devastated by torrential rains, high winds and storm surges.

So what can you do to prepare?  Here are some steps you can take to ready your home and business for hurricane season.

Visit with your insurance agent.

Your agent can provide you with valuable information about hurricanes, and also ensure that you have the coverage necessary to financially protect you from these storms.  Note that most insurance policies do not cover damage from the flooding that accompanies a hurricane.

Plan an evacuation route. 

Contact your local emergency management office or the American Red Cross to learn more about the safest evacuation routes from your local community.  These sources can also provide you with helpful facts regarding nearby shelters and safe areas.

Make sure family members know how to respond.

Teach family members how and when to shut off gas, electricity and water.  Teach children how and when to dial 911, and which radio station to tune to for the latest in weather reports and information.

Develop an emergency communication plan. 

In case family members are separated from one another during a disaster, have a plan for getting back together.  You may want to agree upon a meeting location a safe distance from the storm area.  Ask a family member to serve as the "family contact."  After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance, given the possible heavy traffic that takes place on local phone lines.

Prepare a video inventory. 

It's a good idea to take photos and/or videos of your home and business contents - and be sure to store them in a safe place, such as a bank safety deposit box.  In the event of a major catastrophe, these visual records will help you and insurance adjusters assess the extent of the damage to destroyed items, and can also help you identify anything that is missing as a result of the storm damage.

Finally, remember to practice safety first.

Be especially careful after a storm.  Gas leaks, downed power lines, and sewer and water line damage can be potentially harmful to you and your family.

Contact Kinghorn Insurance of Beaufort

If you would like to contact us, please use the following numbers and addresses:

Phone:         (843) 521-4000
Fax:             (843) 521-4004

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 1088
Beaufort, SC 29901

Physical Address:

910 Carteret St.
Beaufort, SC 29902

Email:

info@insurancebeaufort.com

View Larger Map