Hurricane Preparedness Tips

Get Your Facts In Order

If you’ve lived in Florida for any period of time, you probably have dealt with a hurricane or two. However, because Floridians are so familiar with hurricanes, we tend to underestimate their devastation and overestimate how preparedness. So, Champions Title Services wants to share with you a few important tips and guidelines on what you need to do to keep you and your loved ones as safe as possible during a hurricane.

Information:

Keep a list of contact information for reference.

• Your Property Insurance Agent
• Local Utilities
• County Law Enforcement
• County Public Safety Fire/Rescue
• Local TV Stations
• State, County and City/Town Government
• Local Emergency Management Office
• Local Hospitals
• Local American Red Cross
• Local Radio Stations

Assess the situation

If you can get online, there are several tools that can help you figure out how dangerous your situation is and what particular dangers your should look for..

• If you’re worried about flooding go to: FloodSmart.gov portal.
• If you’re worried about any other hazard go to: FEMA's Map Portal.

Make A Plan

The phrase “plan for the worst, hope for the best” works for hurricanes as well. Unfortunately, your loved ones may not be near each other when disaster hits. Now, you need to have a plan of how you will locate one another, where will you all meet, what route you will take, etc.

Supplies

It’s important to have basic disaster supplies kit and know about different storage locations for different situations.

Emergency Strategy

Get an emergency strategy and write it down. Then make sure everyone involved knows about the plan and what to do.

• Be sure to plan for locations away from home
• Protect yourself and family with a Family Emergency Plan - [PDF]
• Make sure schools and daycares have School Emergency Plans
• Business owners and site locations should create Workplace Plans
• Pet owners should have plans to care for their animals.
• Prepare your boat and be aware of marine safety if you are on or near the water.

Evacuation

• If you follow the FEMA Evacuation Guidelines, you should make sure to plan for enough time to gather your things, your loved ones, and contact whoever you need about your move.
• Leave IMMEDIATELY if you are ordered to do so.

Watch Out For:

• Several hurricanes will cause tornadoes. Be careful!
• When looking it the "eye" of the storm” often people think the storm is over. However, this is not the case. As soon as the eye passes, the winds will return just as violently as before. Stay vigilante.

Recover

• Do not return home until it is officially deemed safe again.
• Unfortunately, disasters take to time to recover from. Just remember it is a process, but it can be accomplished.