Hurricanes are violent and dangerous to your family and your home. When a hurricane threatens to bear down, ensure you know how to batten down your hatches and protect yourself, your loved ones, and your property.

When It’s Hurricane Season

Hurricane season starts June 1 and runs through November 30. Take steps to prepare in advance for a potential hurricane before a warning. It’s the best way to protect your family, your home, and your business.

For more preparedness tips, handy checklists (including ones you can personalize yourself), and evacuation planning advice to cover a variety of disasters, read I.I.I.’s Know Your Plan. It’s a great tool to help get you and your family—including pets—organized and ready to act quickly if a hurricane or other emergency strikes.

When a Hurricane Watch is Issued

A hurricane watch is issued when there is a threat of a hurricane within a 24-36 hour period. At that time, you should:

  • Purchase any emergency supplies that you don’t already have on hand. Hit the stores early, as items such as batteries, candles, and flashlights will get snapped up quickly.
  • Prepare your yard by removing all outdoor furniture, lawn items, planters, and other materials that could be picked up by high winds. If you haven’t already, remove weak branches on plants and trees, lower antennas and retractable awnings.
  • Review your evacuation plan and, if you have a pet, your pet’s evacuation plan to prepare for a potential evacuation.
  • Jot down the name and phone number of your insurer and insurance professional, and keep this information handy in your wallet or purse.
  • Fully charge your cell phone.
  • Fill your car’s gasoline tank.

When a Hurricane Warning is Issued

A hurricane warning is issued when hurricane conditions are expected in 24 hours or less, which means a storm is imminent.

  • Stay informed of the storm’s progress by listening to the radio or TV. Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio for critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS).
  • Install hurricane shutters, board up or otherwise securely shutter large windows, and draw drapes across windows and doors.
  • Get off the boat—never remain on a boat during a hurricane! Check the mooring lines of boats in the water.

If Evacuation Becomes Necessary

Hopefully, you’re fully prepared with an evacuation plan. Also remember:

  • Don’t wait until the last minute—shelters might be full, or the roads might be jammed. If you have pets, consider traveling before an evacuation is ordered—otherwise, officials might order you to leave your pet behind.
  • Take along survival supplies from your list.
  • Please keep important papers with you at all times, including your home inventory, and make sure you have your insurance professional’s name and phone number.
  • Take warm, protective clothing for the whole family in case you get stuck while evacuating.
  • Lock all windows and doors in your home. Don’t compound hurricane damage with the threat of possible looters.
  • Keep all receipts for anything that might be considered an additional living expense if your home is destroyed or damaged and rendered uninhabitable. Documentation is essential when filing an insurance claim.

If You Remain at Home During a Hurricane

Stay indoors. Don’t go out even during the brief calm when the eye of the storm passes over, as wind speeds can increase dramatically in seconds.

  • Stay away from windows and glass doors, and move furniture away from exposed doors and windows.
  • Stay on the downwind side of the house. If your home has an “inside” room, stay there during the height of the hurricane.
  • Keep the television or radio tuned into information from official sources. 

After the Hurricane, Beware of the Dangers that Remain

The storm may have passed, but it likely has created new dangers.

  • Beware of outdoor hazards like loose or fallen tree limbs, loose signage, or awnings that are in danger of breaking off and falling.
  • Keep away from loose or dangling power lines, and report them immediately to the proper authority.
  • Walk or drive extra cautiously, as washouts may weaken road and bridge structures.
  • In the event of a power outage, throw out food that may be spoiled.
  • Boil municipal water before drinking until you have been told it is safe.

If Your Home is Damaged

Notify your insurance professional as soon as possible of any losses. If you must relocate, let your representative know where you can be contacted. In addition:

  • Make temporary repairs—if they can be made safely—to protect property from further damage or looting; for insurance purposes, keep all receipts for materials used.
  • Get written estimates for any proposed repair jobs and use only reputable contractors. Be especially careful of building contractors who want huge deposits up front or encourage you to spend a lot of money on temporary repairs. Ask for their references and check with the Better Business Bureau on complaints.
  • Gather any other receipts for expenses that will be covered by insurance or will be tax deductible.

Source:  Insurance Information Institute

Additional resources

III: Preparing for a Hurricane

Red Cross: Hurricane Safety Checklist

Read Other Blog Posts

Drowsy

Preventing Drowsy Driving

Every year, the National Sleep Foundation organizes Drowsy Driving Prevention Week to raise awareness about the dangers of driving while fatigued.
Smoke Detector

Daylight Saving Time Change: A Perfect Reminder to Check Your Smoke and CO Detectors

Daylight savings time is a perfect opportunity to keep your home safe by checking your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. Time change days are memorable markers, making it easy to establish this habit without any extra reminders.
Flooding

Why Flood Insurance is Essential: Lessons from Hurricanes Helene and Milton

The devastating impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton have shown that flood risk isn’t limited to coastal areas. These storms have highlighted a crucial gap that individuals and businesses need to be aware of: flood damage is generally not included in typical home, condo, renters, or commercial property insurance, making a separate flood insurance policy essential for true protection.
Deer

Defensive Driving to Avoid Deer Collisions

With deer mating season in full swing from October through December, drivers face an increased risk of collisions. As deer are more active, especially around dawn and dusk, habitat loss has pushed them closer to roadways. Here’s how defensive driving can help you avoid an accident.
Driving Car

Factors Affecting Your Car Insurance Rate

The cost of auto insurance is influenced by a wide range of factors. Together, these variables shape the overall cost of auto insurance. With this in mind, it can be helpful to better understand how the following elements may impact your rates:
Insurance Policy

Why Personal Liability Insurance is Essential for Homeowners, Condo Owners, and Renters

An essential part of home, condo & renter coverage often overlooked is personal liability insurance, which provides financial protection if you’re legally responsible for causing bodily injury or property damage to another person, both on and off your property.
Spam Phishing Scam

Recognize Spam and Phishing Emails

As more of our daily lives move into cyberspace, hackers, cybercriminals and spam bots may lurk behind every new message that shows up in your inbox. Even robust spam filters may not be able to catch every unwelcome email. Fortunately, you can act as an additional line of defense for yourself and your electronic devices by understanding the warning signs of spam and phishing emails.
Distracted Driving

How Distracted Driving and Texting Impact Your Auto Insurance Premiums

One major reason for auto insurance premiums going up is the rise in distracted driving, especially texting while driving. Distracted driving has become a leading cause of accidents, pushing up costs for insurance companies and, ultimately, leading to higher premiums for all drivers.
Apartment living room

Keep Your Home Safe While on Vacation

Taking a trip and exploring the world is fun, but leaving your home unoccupied has some risks.  Before departing, protect your property from accidents and criminals by considering the following precautions.

Visit Our Homeowners Insurance Page

Homeowners Insurance

At Murphy Insurance, we take great care in assessing your options for homeowners insurance to ensure that you receive the most favorable value. Our dedication to serving you entails collaborating with highly-rated insurance providers and conducting comprehensive assessments of available choices. Our goal is to achieve the ideal equilibrium between affordability and coverage that suits your unique needs. Please let us provide you with a customized homeowners insurance quote.