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5 Hurricane Lessons For Everyone. The devastating hurricanes might be thousands of miles from where you live. But they do offer important lessons learned. And we should all take heed so they do not become lessons lost.

Hurricane Lessons – Check Your Trees Around Your Home

1. Insurance:

Check your insurance policy; find out exactly in plain English what you are covered for and what you are not covered for. Chances are you are underinsured. Specifically inquire about basement flooding, ice damming, mold, and relocation if home becomes unhealthy.

2. Power:

What is your emergency power source to heat or cool your home. If you have generators now is the time to service and check if they are running properly and not in the middle of a blizzard or torrential downpour. If you are relying a wood stove or fireplace now is the time to check that the dampers are working and to schedule a chimney sweep.

3. Hazardous Trees:

Did you know that if a tree that is dead or dying falls on your home that may exclude your insurance coverage? Now is the time to survey your property and schedule proper tree removal with a licensed company before it falls on your home causing widespread damage.

4. Relocation Plan:

If you had to leave your home because it is unhealthy, ongoing renovations or otherwise becomes uninhabitable where would you go? Contact friends and family now to have a contingency plan or discuss with your spouse if staying in a hotel is even feasible with pets or young children for an extended period of time.

Hurricane Lesson – Where Will You Go If Your Home Is Not Safe

5. Food and Water:

Prepare now for at least 3 days without food or water supply. Proper food and water grade storage containers will prevent spoilage. Iodine and bleach tablets are a good item to have on hand to kill unwanted water born viruses along with a quality water filter like the Berkey water systems. In addition, if the basement flooding impacted the food, you should discard it immediately.