It’s extremely important to know not only what you should do when preparing for a hurricane, but also what not to do. This can mean the difference between safety and putting your family, your property, and yourself at risk.
There are a few things you’ll want to avoid when you are preparing for an upcoming hurricane. Below are some of the top things to NOT do…
Do Not Wait Until the Last Minute
It’s extremely important to stay up to date on the news about an upcoming storm, and not wait until the last minute to prepare. This means gathering your supplies early, planning your escape route, mapping out shelters and hospitals, figuring out where you can stay should you need to leave town, and so on. You also don’t want to sit around and wait for things to get worse and simply hope the storm will pass. If you get an evacuation order, you need to leave as soon as you hear it. Don’t wait for the storm to get worse.
Do Not Forget Supplies
The last thing you want to do right before a storm hits is try to gather supplies. Do not forget the following supplies ahead of time:
- Water and non-perishable food
- Child and Pet Supplies
- Flashlights and Radios
- Gas
- Emergency Kit
- Cash
You also need to fill any important medications and safeguard important documents.
Do Not Forget to Safeguard Your Home
Here are some things to consider when preparing your home before a storm:
- Install storm shutters. Cover up sliding glass doors along with windows.
- Cut branches that could damage your property.
- Remove any debris or decorations from your yard that can become projectiles.
- Use sandbags to form an outside barrier to prevent flooding.
- Seal any outside wall openings. This includes outdoor electrical outlets, vents, and other locations where any cables go through your wall.
Do Not Leave Your Pets Behind
This may seem obvious, but some people sincerely don’t think about the safety of their pets. Some pet owners think they can leave their pets at home, and they will be able to take care of themselves (particularly cats). Do not leave your pets at home! Storms are very unsafe, and your pet may end up severely injured or killed by the storm.
Don’t Skip Filing Your Insurance Claim on Time!
After the storm, you’ll need to survey the damage, document it, then file your insurance claim. Do not wait around to file your claim. You may miss your window.
When you survey and document the damage, make sure you take photos and videos. Also, list out the damage. To ensure you get the best settlement possible, you may want to consider reaching out to a law group like Colucci Law Group to help you file properly.
Make sure you hold onto any written communications between your insurance provider and you and even record phone calls. This evidence may be required in case you need to sue the insurance company if they decide to deny your claim in bad faith.
What If My Insurance Company Decides to Deny My Claim in Bad Faith?
Your insurance company should pay your claim if you take the appropriate steps. With that said, they may deny it in bad faith. If they decide to deny it in bad faith, you’ll want to reach out to Colucci Law Group so we can get you the money you are owed.
Colucci Law Group consists of legal experts that 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.