RRSA Vero Beach wants to make sure our blog readers are aware that this week, May 6-12, 2018 is National Hurricane Preparedness Week. It is time to make sure you are ready if a Hurricane strikes Vero Beach and/or South Florida. This year it looks like it is even more important to be prepared since the 2018 Hurricane Season is predicted to be the strongest cycle in 70 years. We want our readers to take advantage of the following advice to assure that you and your family, and your South Florida business if you have one, is ready when Hurricane Season arrives around the first of June. The season runs through early November.

Preparing for Hurricane Season

1. Create an Evacuation PlanKnowing where you and your family should go in case of a hurricane is an essential part of storm preparation. When a storm surge occurs, causing the water level to rise abnormally high, South Florida cities will insist you evacuate. If you are unsure of where to go, or what your route is, contact your local South Florida emergency management agency to find your Evacuation Route.

2. Create a Family Communication Plan Or Business Continuity Plan

Family Communication PlanCreate your plan now with your family. Know what youll do whether you stay or evacuate, and always have a few options in mind should you be forced to evacuate. Make sure everyone knows all South Florida evacuation routes, and that you have a supply kit on hand for everyone. Check out FEMAs guide to building a Family Communication Plan. Business Continuity PlanAccording to FEMA if a business doesnt have a Business Continuity Plan in place, 40% of small businesses wont reopen after a storm event, 25% of businesses will close within one year, and 75% of businesses without a Continuity Plan will fail. A Business Continuity Plan includes employee communication protocols, data, computer network, server, IT, infrastructure, and backup support should your business be affected by a hurricane, storm surge, damaging winds, flood and/or power outage. If you dont have one for your South Florida business yet, check out FEMAs Ready Business Hurricane Toolkit.

3. Gather SuppliesCreating a supply kit is crucial when a storm is coming. Key items to have on hand include cash, flashlights, batteries, first-aid kits, area maps, food, water, cleaning supplies, gas, battery or solar powered radio. Also, make sure to keep any medications and copies of your critical information on hand in the event of an evacuation. Experts recommend having at least 3 days worth of food, water, and supplies on hand. If you have a generator, do a maintenance check to make sure its working properly. Check out Ready.gov tips on building a Hurricane Supply Kit. Check out the FEMA Emergency Supply List.

4. Prepare Your Home and/or BusinessWe dont have control over storm season, but there are measures you can take to ensure your South Florida home and/or business will be as protected and durable as possible during a storm. Its important to have a full property inspection and confirm there is no existing damage that a hurricane will increase. If you have any structural issues, damaged roofs or loose shingles, its imperative to get repairs. If there are trees near your property, its recommended to trip the branches regularly to prevent damage in the event of strong winds. Make sure your rain gutters are clean and secure. Ensure that your windows and doors are reinforced. If you own hurricane shutters, have them ready. If you plan on using plywood as a window covering this storm season, purchase your supplies now.

5. Review Your Insurance PolicyAll property owners should be educated and knowledgeable about their insurance policies. Since we live in South Florida and it is prone to hurricanes, it is important to include flood insurance as part of your homeowner or commercial property insurance. Make sure you have copies of all important documents stored in your Supply Kit. To be extra smart, store your important papers, like your property insurance policy, in a secondary location not prone to hurricane damage.

RRSA Vero Beach hopes that by using the above measures, your home, family and/or business will remain safe during the 2018 Hurricane Season in South Florida. We offer FREE roof inspections in Vero Beach and all of South Florida. If you would like for us to visit your home or business and inspect your roof before hurricane season arrives, don't hesitate to give us a call!