South Florida’s stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and sunny climate are alluring, but the region is no stranger to the annual threat of hurricanes. This blog covers the top 10 essential hurricane resources in South Florida, empowering you to weather the storm with confidence.
Preparing for a storm can be an undertaking that no one looks forward to, but being equipped when a storm hits can be invaluable. There is no better time than now to put a plan in place to protect you and your family. Below are some essential aspects to consider when storm is on the horizon.
Having an emergency kit prepared is vital. It’s a great idea to always have an emergency kit on hand stocked with batteries, flashlights, first aid kit, and other essential emergency items for unexpected disasters. When a storm is approaching, other necessities should be stocked for your emergency kit in case of power outages. Some of these items should include water, non-perishable food items, prescription medicines, cash, and any other items that may may be needed. When considering items to include in your family’s emergency kit, you should also consider any unique needs of your family. If you have small children, you may need to have extra formula and diapers; if you have pets, make sure you have plenty of pet food on hand.
Preparing your finances ahead of a storm could be one of the best financial decisions you’ll make. The recovery process after a disaster will take much longer if you don’t have immediate access to personal financial, insurance, medical, and other household records. Below are a few tips to prepare your financial disaster plan.
Download your Disaster Preparedness Plan
It sounds simple, but it’s important to communicate with your whole family about what to do in certain scenarios to reduce stress and confusion. When a storm makes landfall, where will you shelter? Will you stay in place or evacuate? Do you know your evacuation route? How will you receive storm updates if there is no power or internet? These are just a few of the questions to consider when creating a plan for your family. Having a plan in place ahead of time can reduce anxiety for the whole family. Download our Disaster Preparedness Plan to help you prepare for a storm.
For more resources to create your storm preparedness plan visit https://www.ready.gov.
It’s that time of year again: hurricane season in Florida. Although Florida is known as the “Sunshine State” for a number of reasons, this doesn’t always mean that living in Florida is a vacation. Florida is also known for severe weather, which include high winds, damaging rains, a tornado or two and probably the worst – hurricanes.
Although Florida residents and business owners know that insurance is important, it is not required, particularly for businesses. But just because commercial insurance isn’t required doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have it.
Most business owners may not realize that property insurance might not include hurricane insurance. Hurricane insurance is usually an add-on that costs extra to include in their policies. The location of the business and other factors, such as the proximity to the coast all determine the cost of coverage.
In the event that a hurricane hits and causes damage to your business property, it could cost you a pretty penny. In fact, damages from a recent storm totaled over $100,000 in damaged property and equipment for one business. Could your business survive a financial hit like that?
Most business owners assume that if a hurricane results in a flood that hurricane insurance is enough to cover the damage. However, flood insurance is a separate policy all together. Like hurricane insurance, flood insurance is another add-on that costs extra.
Hurricane insurance and flood insurance for business are well worth the added costs, especially in an area that is prone to hurricanes. It is a small price to pay to recoup some of the losses from a severe storm than being forced to shut your doors for good.
The team at Synergy Insurance specializes in writing insurance policies for homeowners and businesses in the state of Florida. Since hurricane season is now in full swing, Synergy Insurance wants to ensure that business owners recognize why they should have insurance and understand that hurricane insurance and flood insurance are separate.
This year’s storm season is expected to be busy in the Atlantic, so the team at Synergy Insurance wants business owners to be prepared in advance. Contact our team today for questions, or click the button to get a free quote.
We never anticipate disaster. A fire, a storm, a flood, or theft—they leave chaos and vulnerability in their wake. Did you know taking proper inventory of your valuables helps make sure your insurance claim is covered? When you lose everything, it’s difficult to go back in your mind and remember what you had, when you bought it, and how much it was worth. This adds stress to an already stressful situation.
However, using a home inventory checklist makes it easy to document your valuables now to give you peace of mind later. Storm season in Florida will be here before you know it. Here’s how to create an inventory of your valuables.
At Synergy Insurance Group we understand protection. That’s why we created this free Home Inventory Checklist you can quickly download to help you keep a detailed account of your property. Once you’ve finished your room-by-room inventory, we suggest you talk to your insurance agent to decide if you have the right level of coverage based on your home valuables.
Have you had this thought? Think again.
Your grandmother’s ring, your new juicer, your autographed copy of War and Peace – every room has something in it you wouldn’t want to lose. Musical instruments, knives, furniture, rugs, shoes, electronics, bicycles, outdoor equipment…we guarantee your home property items add up to more than you think.
A proper home inventory is more than a simple list of what you’d like to replace in the event of a disaster. Your insurance company will request a detailed account of home valuables which can include: receipts to prove dates of purchase and original purchase price and photos of the item.
As you document your items, write down brand names and serial numbers, and even consider taking video and verbally recording major items. Store your inventory, receipts, and photographs/video in a fire-proof safe deposit box.
It’s never too early to be prepared, so get started on your own Home Inventory Checklist today! Click the image to download your free copy, and protect your valuables this year.
Now’s the time to catch up on all your small home maintenance tasks before they turn into big, expensive problems. In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, there are also extra safety precautions to take that you might not have considered. Take advantage of the fall weather to protect your home and business from professional liability issues that arise from small oversights and neglect.
1. Clean Out Gutters
Once the leaves stop falling, it’s time to clean those gutters! Be thorough. A debris clogged gutter with backed up water leads to roof damage, water leakage, and mold issues.
2. Evaluate Tree Damage
Are your trees basically healthy even after storm damage from Hurricane Irma? For major issues, consult a professional to see if your trees can be saved. For minor damage, unleash your inner arborist and remove broken branches, jagged limbs, and prune smaller branches down to where they meet large limbs.
3. Prepare for a Polar Vortex
If a cold snap comes knocking, you’ll want to make sure your home remains energy efficient and protected from the wind and chill. Seal up cracks and reduce drafts by adding weather stripping or calking between gaps in windows and doors. If you have a furnace, have it inspected for leaks and change the filter.
4. Test Detector Batteries
Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and do a test by pressing the test button or holding a smoking candle near the unit. Now’s also a good time to make sure your fire evacuation plan is up-to-date and all fire extinguishers charged (as indicated by the pressure gauge).
At Synergy Insurance Group, we strive to meet the unique coverage needs of all our clients. We understand that friendly, professional know-how and dependability is the first step toward a great relationship. If you’re looking for the peace of mind that homeowners insurance, business insurance, or auto insurance can afford, please contact us at Synergy Insurance Group today to see how we can help.
Are you prepared if another hurricane were to hit Florida? Make sure your home, family and belongings are safe by downloading our Disaster Preparedness Plan! Just click the image below to get your copy.
