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Preparing for the Hurricane Season

Hurricanes present several dangers, including storm surges, high winds, tornadoes and flooding. Because of all of these dangers, you and your family should have a hurricane prepartion plan set in place prior to the onset of the hurricane season. This plan should prepare you for any type of disaster that can occur during a hurricane. Planning escape routes as well as deciding where you will go should a hurricane occur and you need to evacuate, is essential.

When planning where you will go should you need to evacuate, you need to make provisions for your pets. The need for having an emergency plan for your pets was brought to light by the tragedies that occurred during Hurricane Katrina. Because shelters and hotels may not take pets, you will have to make sure other accommodations are available.

Additionally, everyone in a hurricane prone area should have a disaster supply kit. It should include water, non-perishable food, batteries, flashlights, bedding and pillows, clothing, first aid kit, pet supplies, toiletries, radio, telephones and any other essential items. If you have a kit prepared from a previous hurricane season, you should review the items and make sure you do not need to replace anything.

To reduce the damage to your house caused by the storm, you will need to secure your home. The most important precaution you can take to reduce damage to your property is to protect the areas where wind can enter. According to recent wind technology research, it is important to strengthen the exterior of your house so wind and debris do not tear large openings in it. You can do this by protecting and reinforcing five critical areas, namely the roof, straps, shutters, doors and garage doors of your home.

Finally, before hurricane season, you should make sure your home and property are properly insured. If you are renting, you should get a renters insurance policy, since your landlord's insurance policy only covers structural damage to the building.