With hurricane season approaching, now is the right time to get prepared. Hurricanes and other weather emergencies can bring additional stress and uncertainty, especially in flood-prone or coastal areas. Being prepared can help give you peace of mind and keep you and your family safe. Make sure you add these four tasks to your list ahead of hurricane season:

1. Get physically prepared.

When it comes to riding out stormy weather, getting your physical supplies together is key, including gathering enough shelf-stable food and drinking water for your family. Generally, one gallon of water, per person, per day, with enough to last five to seven days is recommended. Don’t forget to know your evacuation zone and routes and to keep an eye on your area’s weather alerts before, during and after a major storm. (An emergency weather alert radio is smart to keep around, plus extra batteries.) Generators are a great asset to have in the event of a power outage because they can power your critical appliances, like your refrigerator. If you’re considering getting a generator, start the process now to avoid the post-hurricane rush.

For those in Florida, you can shop tax-free from May 28 through June 10, 2022, for certain hurricane season preparation items, so take advantage of those savings as you stock up on essentials. If you want additional help with physical preparation advice, the National Weather Service has an excellent resource library with instructions about how to prepare for all kinds of weather emergencies, including how to prepare for hurricanes and tropical storms.

2. Stash an emergency fund.

As you’re preparing physically, remember to prepare financially, as well. It’s always wise to have at least three to six months of living expenses in a place you can easily access, such as a Grow Basic Savings Account, to cover the cost of any unforeseen situations. That’s especially true after an emergency. Plus, it’s good to keep some cash on hand in a safe location. You never know when ATMs or terminals might be temporarily down after extreme weather, so stash some cash just in case.

3. Check your insurance coverage.

Review your current insurance policies, including homeowners, renters and auto, to ensure you’re sufficiently covered in case of damage or loss. Increase your coverage limits, if needed, and be aware of out-of-pocket expenses and deductibles. If you don’t already have it, consider adding a flood insurance policy. No one in the history of post-hurricane cleanup has ever said, “I wish I didn’t have that flood insurance.” In fact, it’s usually the opposite — don’t wait until it’s too late to add flood insurance coverage for your home. If you’re looking for insurance policies, check out our affiliated insurance services provider, Quorum Insurance, LLC, for a free, no-obligation quote.^*

4. Keep important documents safe.

It’s crucial to keep important documents safe and accessible — things like household identification, financial and legal documentation, and medical information — whether in a safe deposit box, secure cloud storage, or another safe place during a weather emergency. Use this FEMA checklist to learn more about safeguarding critical documents and valuables. In addition to these three essential steps above, we recommend reviewing the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit, a joint publication from Operation Hope and FEMA that will help you prepare financially and reduce the impact of disasters on you and your family.

^*Quorum Insurance, LLC is an affiliate of Grow Financial. Insurance products purchased through Quorum Insurance, LLC are not deposits of Grow Financial and are not protected by NCUA. They are not an obligation of or guaranteed by Grow Financial and may be subject to risk. Business conducted with Quorum Insurance, LLC is separate and distinct from any business conducted with Grow Financial. Grow Financial is in no way responsible for the services provided through this program.

---

Posted In:

• General Education