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2024-05-31
By: Advocate Brokerage
As cold weather begins to fade away and summer shines through, it’s easy to get excited about longer days. But along with the sunshine comes the threat of severe weather, including hurricanes. Today, your insurance Advocate discusses ways you can keep yourself, your vehicles, your families, and your businesses safe.
In addition to the obvious coastal zones, such as Suffolk County in the Hamptons, and Palm Beach County in Florida, most of Southern Westchester County is considered a coastal zone, and even if you don’t live in view of the water, storms can have a significant impact on your home. So having a hurricane evacuation plan is crucial.
For residents of Westchester County, the Westchester County Evacuation Program is available to plan and prepare for hurricanes. You can find more information online here.
While planning a destination for hurricane evacuation is not as fun as planning a vacation, it’s essential that you know where you plan to go. This is especially important if you are bringing multiple vehicles, pets, and family members along with you.
Before storm season begins, have your vehicle stocked with non-perishable snacks, jumper cables, a tow rope, phone chargers, and a physical map. You’ll also want to highlight your destination and multiple routes you can take in case of traffic congestion.
Don’t run around on an empty tank. Keep your vehicle full throughout storm season so you don’t find yourself scrambling for fuel on the way out.
If you live in a low-lying area that is known to flood, have a separate evacuation plan for your cars. If you must leave luxury or recreational vehicles behind, park them in the garage, or on high ground under a cover if your garage floods. If you have multiple vehicles, consider utilizing a hurricane-proof storage facility and securing your spot well before summer.
Hurricane season can be unpredictable, and you may not always have time to secure your vehicles. Be conscientious of where you park, especially if you’re outdoors. Keep your vehicles on the highest ground possible and avoid parking under power lines, trees, or anything else that might fall down during high winds.
Hurricanes affect more than just your home and vehicles. As a business owner, make sure that your Scarsdale business will continue to function before, during, and after a natural disaster. Make sure you have procedures that allow you to safeguard critical documents and equipment. Communication and disaster recovery plan protocols are also vital.
While no one can prevent an Act of God, we can take certain things into our own hands to minimize damage during the stormy storm seasons. For more information or to find out about additional coverages you might need, contact your insurance Advocate today.
