Hurricane season is here: Protect your home and review coverage

Hurricane season is here: Protect your home and review coverage

With the Atlantic hurricane season officially beginning June 1, homeowners can take steps now to prepare for the hazards that hurricanes can bring. Strengthening your home and reviewing your insurance coverage ahead of time can help you respond faster and recover more smoothly if a storm impacts your community.

This doesn't just apply to those who live in coastal states. Hurricanes can travel hundreds of miles inland, bringing excessive rainfall, high winds, severe thunderstorms, possible tornadoes, and high risks of flooding.

Hurricanes can create multiple hazards:

• Storm surge is water pushed onshore by a tropical system and causes the most damage of any of the hurricane hazards.
• Extreme winds can top 200 mph in the strongest storms, causing massive damage to buildings in its path.
• Inland flooding from heavy rainfall can damage homes and wash out roadways far from the shoreline.
• Tornadoes are common as a hurricane moves ashore and even prior to landfall can cause significant damage.
• Rip currents and rough seas are common before and after hurricanes, making swimming and surfing dangerous.

Steps to help strengthen your home
The National Weather Service recommends homeowners take the following steps to help prepare for severe weather:

• Trim trees: Keep trees around your home trimmed well before a storm to reduce damage from broken branches.
• Have materials ready: Gather supplies in advance such as Hurricane shutters or board up or protect windows from flying debris.
• Secure outdoor items: Bring in loose items such as patio furniture and decor. High winds can turn them into projectiles and cause damage to homes.
• Check the doors: Secure all doors on your property. The garage door is often one of the most vulnerable.
• Protect vehicles: Move vehicles into a garage or another secure location when possible.

Insurance reminders for hurricane season
A hurricane is not the time to learn what your policy does and does not cover. Consider these steps before severe weather strikes:

• Review your policies: Understand what is covered, what is excluded, and what is subject to deductibles.
• Consider flood insurance: Flooding is a leading cause of hurricane-related damage, and flood coverage is not included in many standard homeowners policies. Talk to your agent. For more information about what is covered and to find a policy, visit floodsmart.gov.
• Build a kit: Prepare a basic emergency supply kit, which could include water, food, medications, a first-aid kit, a flashlight, copies of your insurance policies, and other essential items in case you need to leave your home.
• Keep documents accessible: Store your insurance documents and carrier contact information where you can grab them quickly if you need to evacuate.
• Take photos before and after: Document your home and belongings now. If damage occurs, take detailed photos as soon as it is safe to do so. Before-and-after photos can help support a claim.
• Save receipts: If you are ordered to evacuate, your policy may include additional living expense coverage for eligible costs such as hotel stays, meals and pet boarding. Keep all receipts for potential reimbursement.

Understand your coverage
In many states, wind-related hurricane damage is typically covered under a homeowners policy, subject to policy terms, conditions, deductibles and exclusions. Be sure to confirm your coverage reflects your home's current reconstruction cost.

Contact an American Family Insurance agency owner to review your policy and discuss coverage options that fit your needs, providing you with confidence and helping you protect what matters most.

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About American Family Insurance
American Family Insurance, based in Madison, Wis., has been serving customers since 1927. We inspire, protect and restore dreams through our insurance products, exceptional service from our agency owners and employees, community investments and creative partnerships. American Family Insurance is the nation's 12th-largest property/casualty insurance company, ranking No. 202 on the Fortune 500 list. American Family has a current 'a+' credit rating through AM Best, and has distinction as a "Standing the Test of Time" company, which is represented by having an AM Best financial strength rating of 'A' or better for at least 75 years. The company offers American Family-brand products through a network of exclusive agency owners as well as nationwide through key strategic partnerships. American Family Insurance also includes Homesite and Main Street America. The company has approximately 10,500 employees nationwide.