August is the most frequent month for hurricanes to hit Texas. But they can happen at any time during the hurricane season.
If you live in the Lone Star State, preparing for a hurricane before it happens is a necessity. It could be the difference between life and death.
How do you begin to prepare for such an unpredictable event? What are the first steps you need to take?
To help your family for the Texas hurricane season, use these main tips below to get started.
- Make an Emergency Plan
The plan that you make should be tailored to the needs of your family. Consider what changes you may need to make every year as you have kids, get new pets, or move to a new location.
Consider creating a family emergency communication plan that can be used for hurricanes or other emergency situations. Be sure to consider what to do if you are separated or in different locations when a hurricane hits.
The power of Texas hurricanes may create the need for evacuation. In the event that this happens, you need to know what to do.
There may be situations where you have a couple of days beforehand to prepare. But in other cases, you may need to go right away.
Be sure that your family knows how you will leave and where you will plan to go if asked to evacuate. It may be helpful to determine a few places in different directions that you could go if necessary.
- Gather Necessary Supplies
One of the first things that you will want to do if you live in south Texas is create an emergency preparedness kit. This should contain food, water, and other needed supplies that your family can survive on for at least a few days.
Don’t forget other supplies, like emergency cash or important family documents. If you’re traveling with pets, you’ll need to include extra food for them as well.
A huge hurricane preparedness tip is to include activities in your kit if there is space, such as puzzles, books, or small games. This is especially true if you have small children that can easily become bored and frustrated.
- Review Your Policies
It is a good idea to regularly review your insurance policies and to be sure that you understand the coverage you have. If it is not going to be good enough to repair your home or replace your belongings, then it may be worth it to shop around for a new plan.
Homeowner’s insurance does cover part of the costs you may have following a hurricane, but it will not cover flood damage.
Flood insurance is such an important part of a well-rounded coverage plan and there are plenty of reasons why you need it. If you don’t have flood insurance, now is the time to get it!
You may also want to consider a policy for wind and water damage, which can be an add-on to this coverage.
Take the Time to Prepare for Texas Hurricane Season
These tips will help you put together a solid plan in the event of a hurricane so that you can keep your family safe.
Texas hurricane season can be scary for many individuals, but being prepared can make all the difference.
Do you want to learn more tips related to homeownership? If so, check out our blog page today.
