With hurricane season around the corner, now is the right time to prepare. Hurricanes and other weather emergencies can cause stress and uncertainty, especially in flood-prone and coastal areas. Being prepared will help give you peace of mind and keep yourself and your family safe. Make sure you add these four things to your preparation list before a storm hits:

1. Get physically prepared.

When it comes to riding out stormy weather, getting your physical supplies together is key:

• Gather enough shelf-stable food and drinking water for your family and pets. Generally, one gallon of water per person per day, with enough to last five to seven days, is recommended.
• Purchase supplies now to avoid the pre-storm rush. If you’re considering getting a generator or other in-demand hurricane preparation products, think about getting them sooner rather than later.
• Know your evacuation zone and routes. Keep an eye on your area’s weather alerts before, during and after a major storm. (It is smart to keep an emergency weather alert radio with extra batteries around.)
• Photograph your most valuable possessions. Documentation can help with insurance companies should you lose any items in a severe weather event.
• Review your family emergency plan together. Make sure everyone knows how you will communicate, where you will meet and what steps you will take in the event of a hurricane or other emergency.

For additional advice on physical preparation, the National Weather Service has an excellent resource library with instructions on how to prepare for all kinds of weather emergencies, including hurricanes and tropical storms.

2. Stash an emergency fund.

While you’re preparing physically, remember to prepare financially as well. It’s generally a wise savings goal to have three to six months of living expenses in liquid funds you can easily access, such as a Grow Money Market Account, to cover the cost of any unforeseen situations. That’s especially true after a weather emergency. It’s also a good idea to keep some actual cash on hand in a secure location. You never know when ATMs or terminals might be temporarily unavailable after extreme weather events, so stash some cash just in case.

3. Check your insurance coverage.

Review your current insurance policies, including homeowners, renters and auto insurance, to ensure you’re sufficiently covered in case of damage or loss. Increase your coverage limits, if necessary, and be aware of out-of-pocket expenses and deductibles.

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.” 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 Quorum Insurance LLC for a free, no-obligation quote.^* Quorum will do the work for you to compare policies and help you find the right one.

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 secure place during a weather emergency. Use this FEMA checklist to learn more about safeguarding critical documents and valuables.

Try FEMA’s Emergency Financial First Aid Kit

In addition to the four 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.

By completing preparation tasks before a hurricane hits, you’ll be well-prepared to face any challenges and protect what matters most. Remember, preparedness is key!

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^*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.

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