Introduction

It’s September and hurricane season is peaking. As this month progresses, more activity will be seen and extend until our typical season is over by November. In the recent calendar of cataclysmic events, the hurricanes are stronger, more powerful and leave far more damage than most have seen in their lifetime. Hurricane Irma in September, 2017 ravaged through the shores of Florida and caused catastrophic flooding in the city of Houston, Texas. The Season then went on to create more devastation as hurricane Maria ripped through Puerto Rico, leaving thousands homeless. With such disasters, very little is left behind to be termed positive, but how people prepare themselves for a hurricane is what matters. Here are a helpful tips on what to do when a hurricane passes.

 Safety first

After a hurricane passes the first thing people do is roam around to check the damage in their area. I see countless numbers get in their car and drive around only minutes later to return because conditions are unsafe.

In any disaster management class, you will always be told safety first. After a hurricane, it is essential to make sure everyone around you including yourself is out of harm’s way. Things such as water drainage, gas leaks, structural damage and weakened roads might pose a potential threat, and hence you should take caution. Even water can still rise, a tree can fall, and the ground can give way, a roof or other outdoor structure can fall after the hurricane is over.

Do a quick outdoor survey of your property if you must, but wait until you get the all clear for your area.

 Make Use of Insurance

After assessing the extent of the damage to your home and property, contact your insurance company. The company will send an agent who will help you determine what can be repaired and steer you in the right direction regarding compensation. Also, take pictures and videos of all your damages  and document everything including communications such as phone calls,  emails , and paper mail corespondents with your insurance company. Keep notes on everything. Log every type of communication. Keep detailed notes and include name, dates, and ask for a reference number for the call. Get an employee number and first and last name if possible. Record the date and time of all communication. You will need this later. The more details you have, the less trouble you will have when insurance payments are due. Hopefully.

 Make Temporary Repairs if Possible

After it is safe short-term fixes will be able to stop any further damage or water entry in to your home. The repairs could be from covering broken windows to placing tarps on leaking roofs to prevent additional water entry. Do not attempt to do anything if for any reason you do not feel safe. Getting on a roof and sustaining an injury is not worth risking your safety. Remember, safety first. Do your best, but do not cross your limits.

Water

Water is the necessity and mother of all invention, and this is most evident during and after a hurricane. Supply and contamination of water is always a possibility. Drink from your water collection method. Use the same water for oral hygiene as well. Bacteria can enter your moth through a simple act of brushing your teeth and  make you or your family ill. Why take the chance? You can also boil water and filter it to keep it clean. After a hurricane water could have mixed with sewer water or otherwise contaminated. Continually check for water updates in your area. They can change.

Do not under any circumstances venture into water of any kind on foot or car. Remember, water can and will be your best friend, but also can be your worst enemy. You do not know what is in or under water. Stay clear until advised otherwise. Be sure to check with your local authorities if you have a boil water advisory. Until then, use the water collection system you have.

Food

Food preservation after a hurricane is critical as food supply may remain low, or at times you may not be able to replenish. Make sure you have enough canned and non-perishable food on hand. All the food should be stored in the fridge and have a workable plan on how to eat your meals before normalcy returns. For example,  you could start consuming the perishable food like meat and fish and save the canned food for last. Please refer to blog series part three in the link below for more details.

Beware of Contractors

After every hurricane or natural disaster, there will always be contractors approaching you for your business. Suddenly, a surge of roof specialist, tree specialists, every kind of business will bee pooping up. Be cautious of the unscrupulous contractors that may want to take advantage of you after a hurricane when you are desperate to get back to a normal life.

Ask for references from insurance companies and ensure the contractors are licensed, bonded and insured to do the repair work you need. Also, never assign your insurance benefit to third-party contractors as they may steal your payouts and inflate your charges leaving the repairs unfinished. Check with your insurance company for advice on how much you should extend as a down payment. Pay a deposit if necessary, but never pay for job completion, even if your deductible limit will not be reached for the repairs and become out of pocket expenses. It is normal in some cases to have a lien on your property until repairs are paid in full. Inform your insurance company, and make sure when payment is made the lien is removed. From personal experience, removing the lien often gets overlooked. It’s public record. You or your attorney can easily access the records.

 Attorneys to the Rescue

We should all face the fact not all insurance companies are there to compensate for your damages. In this case, you can hire an attorney to guide you on the policies to follow. Some insurance companies could try to put exclusions on a policy as a way of denying you your compensation. In this case, you will need a lawyer to help you get your rightful compensation. If you are unable to afford an attorney many States have legal aid available to help victims of fraud and abuse after a hurricane. They can also advise on other benefits you may be entitled to after a hurricane.  

In disaster management, there are always three stages: the preparation, the real deal, and the aftermath. The first is as important as the last. Hurricanes are destructive, so you have to be well prepared to survive them.

Final Words

Hurricanes are serious business. Please take the time to review over the entire series just to refresh your memory so you are totally prepared if and when a hurricane hits your area.

How to Prepare for a Hurricane Season

How to Prepare for Hurricane Season: Part 2: Build and Organize Your Hurricane Kit

Hurricane Readiness: Part 3: Water, Dehydration, and Refrigeration

Hurricane Readiness: Part 4: Where am I safe?

Please feel free to add your tips for hurricane readiness and post your tips and tricks in the comments below. This series was created based on my own personal experience over 20+ years of hurricanes, including Andrew. There is always more to learn. So please feel free to keep the comments coming.