On June 17, Manatee County held a virtual town hall on hurricane preparedness. The call included Commissioner Betsy Benac and Chief of Emergency Management Steve Litschauer, discussing topics regarding how residents should prepare for hurricane season 2020. Although the event was geared towards Manatee County residents, information is useful to all Sarasota and Manatee county homeowners.
One of the biggest changes this year is the approach to hurricane shelters, as the state continues to fight COVID-19 with social distancing and health measures. These were the general topics discussed at the town hall – along with some thoughts from Anderson & Associates Insurance Group. To watch the full video content, click here.
Hurricane Preparedness Tips
- Learning the strength of your home: Now is the time to perform any last minutes needed repairs, whether that be a new roof, new windows, or a reinforced garage door. Hurricane shutters should be checked for operation (in the case of automatic roll-down shutters) or that all parts are present for shutters which need installation. People who have never installed hurricane shutters should practice with a few panels to make sure they understand installation. Consider if there are any vulnerable areas of the home which may need attention.
Remember, if you do make improvements to your home which fortify it against winds and rain, call your insurance company to see if you qualify for a windstorm policy discount. - Assess whether your home is in an evacuation zone using online tools for help: Evacuation zones are typically more coastal, recognizing those areas most likely to be affected by flood waters. There are several levels of evacuation zone. Authorities will determine as the storm progresses who is mandated to evacuate. To check which evacuation zone you live in, check online at the following links: Sarasota County, Manatee County.
- Make an evacuation plan now. If you live in an evacuation zone or in a mobile home in any zone, determine several options ahead of time as to where you can stay if severe weather arrives. While many people rush to flee the state at the last minute, having a few inland options that you can choose from as the storm approaches will be more prudent. People typically need only go tens of miles out of the danger zones, not hundreds, according to Manatee County experts.
- Knowing when 911 is appropriate: 911 is to be utilized for emergencies only. If you have questions or concerns about an impending storm, call 311 instead. Many calls to 911 before a storm can be averted by arming yourself with information and a plan before there is any threat.
As stated above, one of the biggest changes this year in hurricane policy is related to COVID-19 and shelters. While shelters will be made available, residents should consider them a last resort and not a primary option. This is due to the fact that by their nature, hurricane shelters tend to be crowded and provide very close quarters. There will be few guarantees, if any, for your health regarding the virus. If you have any concerns about your health or the spread of COVID-19, shelter should be considered a last resort.
Remember: COVID-19 has also affected allowable occupancy in hotels in most states, so if you plan on traveling out of state be sure to have your reservations before you go – otherwise you may be battling thousands of others for a reduced amount of available rooms.
At Anderson & Associates Insurance, we help you prepare for a catastrophic storm by providing you options for windstorm coverage on your home. To ensure that your home is properly insured and protected, give us a call today. We are here to help with hurricane preparedness, or any other concern you have regarding your home, auto or business.
