Natural Disasters: Important Information

Review your policy with your insurance agent to help ensure your home is covered for all perils, including wind, hail, lightning and water backup.

It can be hard to remember everything you own after an extreme weather event. If you need to file a claim, having an accurate inventory of your belongings will help you identify everything that needs to be replaced. Make a video, take photos and /or create a list. For easy access, consider saving a copy on your phone.

If your home is damaged and you need to file a claim, you’ll need access to your insurance documents. Keep these and other important papers, such as mortgage and loan documents, birth certificates, marriage certificates and Social Security cards, in a fireproof safe.

Create a list of items and keep them in a central location to prevent having to make hasty decisions during a stressful situation. This can help you evacuate more quickly.

A surge protector can help prevent costly damage to your electronics during a lightning strike or power surge.

Your roof is a critical defense for your home in hail and windstorms. Impact-resistant shingles can prevent hail damage and may qualify you for an insurance premium discount. Shingles are also wind rated to resist high winds. If your roof is over 20 years old, it is likely vulnerable to hail and wind damage.

This includes, but is not limited to, window blinds, detached garages, electrical and plumbing systems, water heaters, refrigerators, cooking stoves, and built-in appliances like dishwashers.

Flood insurance can be purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program or private insurance companies.

Enter your address on FEMA’s websiteOpens overlay to determine if you are in or near a flood zone.

In most major flood events, homes near, but not inside, a flood zone can flood. Flood insurance is less expensive when you live outside a flood zone and can help reduce costs if water enters your home.

Homeowners insurance often doesn’t cover this, but your agent can help you add it to your policy. In addition, a licensed plumber can install a sewer backflow valve to help prevent water from entering your home through the sewer.

Batteries can lose their charge over time, leaving your sump pump unable to keep water out of your home.

If your HVAC sits on the ground, you can hire a contractor to raise it off the ground or build a flood-proof encasing to help protect it from costly water damage.

Rainfall in hurricanes can be driven horizontally, which can allow water to enter your home in ways typical rainfall cannot. An inexpensive way to prepare is to seal any gaps and cracks with silicone caulk.

If you replace your windows, consider those with a high impact rating that are resistant to breakage from debris tossed by hurricane winds. Purchasing hurricane shutters can help protect existing windows. Taping windows does not prevent window breakage. Adding plywood as a last resort could help, but it’s not as effective as shutters.

Garage doors can blow in during wind events, creating pressure on walls and roofs, which can cause them to fail. If you replace your garage door, purchase a wind-rated doorOpens overlay. Existing garage doors can also be reinforced with braces.

Having your roof deck sealed can help prevent water from entering your home if shingles are ripped off by hurricane winds.

Strong winds can cause trees with large or dead branches to crash into your home. An arborist can also examine your trees and help prune them.

Generators should be kept in a well-ventilated area away from windows, doors or vents that could bring carbon monoxide into your home. View generator tips from the Red CrossOpens overlay.

Research from the Institute of Business and Home Safety shows that closing all interior doors can reduce the occurrence of roof loss by 30% by offsetting the pressure from hurricane winds.

Materials within five feet of your home may catch fire and burn long enough to spread. Remove all combustible material, dead vegetation and any tree limbs that hang over your home.

Debris, such as pine needles and leaves, can collect on your roof and in your gutters, which can ignite when embers from a nearby wildfire reach your home.

Ensure areas around openings, such as doors, windows and garage doors, are sealed to prevent embers from entering your home.

Decks can be a focal point for fire ignition. When replacing deck boards, opt for non-combustible decking. When fire potential is high, move patio furniture inside to prevent them from being a source of ignition.

To see how you can make your home more wildfire resistant, review the regional wildfire retrofit guidesOpens overlay created by the Insurance Institute of Business and Home Safety.