If you’re lucky enough to live in Sarasota, Florida, you enjoy beautiful weather the majority of the time. During hurricane season, however, you should take steps to make sure you and your family are properly prepared. The season runs for six months, from June 1 through Nov. 30, so take the following steps now to make sure your family and belongings weather the hurricane season as well as possible:
Related Blog: How to Prepare Your Home Before a Hurricane
Make sure you have a minimum of the following:
Keep important papers, including a thumb drive with backup computer files, in a plastic Ziploc bag.
Make sure you have a strong working flashlight and emergency radio, with fresh batteries for each.
Create an evacuation plan with your family members, and practice it in advance of an emergency to avoid confusion. Also learn where evacuation routes and shelters are in your area.
Gas supplies could run short in the event of an emergency, and you don’t want to risk running out of gas while you’re in a line of cars trying to evacuate.
Make sure your homeowner’s insurance is up to date and covers everything you need it to, such as your boat. Flood insurance often isn’t included on a standard policy, so you may want to purchase it separately.
Take a video of your belongings, walking throughout your house and opening drawers and closets. Make sure to include footage of any exterior belongings or structures, such as a storage shed or boat.
If you have a boat, make sure to strip it of sails or anything that’s removable. Add extra lines if it’s in the water, and consider strapping it down and securing it to an anchor. If you store your boat in a marina, the best choice is one with floating docks and tall pilings.
For more tips on how to properly secure your boat during hurricane season, contact Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift for more information.