While some people choose to leave as soon as it looks like trouble is coming, others wait until evacuation orders. Others still will choose to ignore these orders and stay home. While it is highly recommended that you evacuate should you receive the orders to do so, there are some things you can do to better protect yourself (should you choose to stay at home) once a hurricane hits.
Below are some tips for what you should do if you choose to stay, along with how to handle your property insurance claim and what you can do if your provider decides to deny your claim in bad faith.
What If I Choose to Stay?
If you choose to stay, there are some things you’ll want to do to keep your family, your pets, and yourself safe. Below are a few things you’ll want to do should you choose to batten down the hatches and ride out the storm:
Gather Your Supplies
Gathering supplies ahead of time is paramount. You don’t want to try to travel during a storm to a store in the hopes that they haven’t closed yet. Supplies also may become limited once a storm rolls in, so the sooner you stock up, the better.
Here are some supplies to consider:
- Water and non-perishable food
- Flashlights and Radios
- Batteries
- Gas
- Child and Pet Supplies
- Toiletries
- An Emergency Kit
- Cash (Should You Choose to Leave)
- A Map
You also need to fill any important medications.
These supplies will ensure you stay safe and informed about the storm. Your radio will definitely come in handy as you can listen for updates, and an emergency kit is particularly important in case someone in your home is injured due to the storm.
Take Steps to Protect Your Home
You’ll want to make sure your home is as safe as possible, so you don’t have to worry as much about damage to your property and your personal safety. Here are some steps you can take:
- Use sandbags to form an outside barrier to prevent flooding.
- Cut branches that could damage your property.
- Install storm shutters. Cover up sliding glass doors along with windows.
- Remove any debris or decorations from your yard that can become projectiles.
- Seal any outside wall openings. This includes outdoor electrical outlets, vents, and other locations where any cables go through your wall.
Additional Tips
Here are some bonus tips for staying safe while at home during a storm:
- Make sure you have gas if you have a generator, and you know how to use it before the storm hits. Consider practicing turning it on and off.
- DO NOT go outside during the storm!
- If your home loses power, keep the fridge closed as much as possible. While you should have canned goods, you don’t want any food to spoil.
File a Claim for Any Damages
After the storm has hit, you’ll want to check your property for damages. Should you find any damage to your home, make sure to document it with photos and videos. File your claim on time and follow all of the directions provided by your insurance company to increase the likelihood that it will be paid out in full. To ensure you get the full amount you are owed, consider hiring Colucci Law Group to help you with filing your claim.
What If My Insurance Company Decides to Deny My Claim?
Your insurance company is obligated to pay out your claim, should everything be filed properly. If they decide to deny your claim in bad faith, make sure you reach out to Colucci Law Group so we can get you the money you are owed.
Colucci Law Group consists of legal experts who provide clients with support to fight bad faith claim denials. We will provide you with an outstanding property insurance lawyer to represent you in a suit against your insurance provider. We are also able to file your claim for you and defend your rights, so you get the settlement that you deserve.
For more information about our property insurance legal services, reach out today. We’d be happy to help you to file your claim or represent you in a lawsuit against your insurance provider.
If you suspect that you are the victim of a bad faith insurance claim denial, we can help. The Colucci Law Group has the resources to assess the validity of your claim at no cost to you. For a free consultation, email us or call our Dunedin office at 727-733-9438. You may also call our Fort Myers office at 239-378-7800. Our team assists victims of bad-faith insurance claims across the state of Florida.