If you live in Florida, you’ve come to expect to tropical storms and hurricanes as a common occurrence. At the time of this writing, many Floridians were racing to finalize their storm preparations and evacuate as hurricane Matthew barreled toward a large swath of the state. A Central Florida Personal Insurance policy provides financial protection against hurricane damage in the days or weeks after a storm. Do you have a hurricane recovery plan for the hours after a storm hits? You should. Here’s an immediate post-storm checklist to mitigate damage and keep you safe.
Practice Generator Safety.
According to the World Health Organization, there was a spike in the number of carbon-monoxide poisoning deaths in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The culprit? Gas-powered generators. Never use generators indoors and keep them away from windows, doors, and vents leading inside your home or business. Generator exhaust is full of carbon monoxide, a deadly, odorless gas that builds up quickly.
Don’t Drink the Water.
Water supplies may be contaminated during a major storm. Boil water before drinking it or brushing your teeth with it. To kill pathogens, bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute.
Avoid Floodwaters.
Floodwater may be contaminated with raw sewage and toxins and may be hiding dangerous debris, snakes, alligators, and live wires. Do not venture into floodwaters unless it is an absolute emergency.
Remove Wet Debris.
If your home or business has flooded or water has entered through a leaking roof or broken window, the sooner you can remove damp debris the better. Wet carpet, drywall, draperies, etc. eventually will mold. Mold can quickly spread and ruin more of your property and cause health problems. Remove wet objects and standing water, open doors and windows to increase airflow, and use fans to dry out your space as soon as it’s safe to do so.
Hopefully, your business will not be in the path of a hurricane this year or in any year to come. Unfortunately, living in Florida means that the likelihood of being impacted by a hurricane is high. Let Newman Crane & Associates Insurance make sure you will be protected financially should you find herself in her path. Contact us at (407) 859-3691.