Your home may be one of your most important investments.  By keeping it properly maintained in every season, you can help reduce the risk of a loss and ensure the safety and well-being of your friends and family.

Please review the following information and familiarize yourself with these important safety tips.

• Survival Kit
• Hurricane
• Flood
• Tornado
• Earthquake
• Wildfires
  Some websites : www.fema.gov (Federal Emergency Management Agency), www.nws.noaa.gov (National Weather Service and Storm Watch Updates)

When preparing for a disaster, be sure to make a survival kit that includes:

• Emergency plan
• Canned or other non-perishable food
• Non-electric can opener
• First aid kit and manual
• Portable radio and/or television
• Flashlight
• Extra Batteries
• Water in non-breakable containers
• Prescription medicines as needed
• Extra clothing and blankets
• Emergency cash 

Hurricane

Before

• Understand the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning.  A hurricane watch means a hurricane may occur within the next 24-36 hours.  A hurricane warning means that a hurricane will probably strike your area within the next 24 hours.
• Prepare a survival kit.
• Plan your evacuation route in advance of the storm.
• Close storm shutters and board up all windows.
• Stock up on drinking water and non-perishable goods.
• Have a supply of batteries and be sure you have flashlights and a portable radio in good working condition.
• Review how to shut off utilities in an emergency with all family members.
• Secure all outdoor objects or move them inside.
• Secure your boat or car and move to a safer place.
• Fuel your car in case you must leave immediately.
• Have a tarp available if you suffer roof damage.
• Have an inventory listing of your belongings if time permits or take pictures of each room.

During

• Listen to the radio for important storm information and instructions.
• If at home, stay inside and away from all windows, skylights and glass doors.  Do not go outside, even if the weather appears to have calmed.  The "eye" of the storm can pass quickly, leaving you outside when the strong winds resume.
• If you must evacuate, leave as soon as possible and be sure to tell someone outside of the storm area where you will be.

After

• Stay tuned to the radio or television.  If you have had to evacuate, return home only after the authorities advise it is safe to do so.
• Avoid downed power lines.
• Beware and check for gas leaks or electrical system damage.
• Make temporary repairs as necessary like covering holes in roofs or windows.
• Call a water restoration company who can help you extract surface water.
• Report the loss to your agent.  

Before

• Get flood insurance.  Your homeowners insurance policy does not cover flood damage.
• Collect emergency building materials if you live in a frequently flooded area: plywood, plastic sheeting, lumber, nails, shovels and sandbags.
• Prepare a survival kit.
• Plan and practice an evacuation route.  Establish a meeting place should your family get separated.
• Review how to shut off utilities in an emergency with all family members.
• Move property to a higher place like an attic or second story.
• Have an inventory listing of your belongings if time permits or take pictures of each room.

During

• Listen to a battery operated radio or television for the latest storm information.  If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
• Move to high ground, avoid rising waters and do not walk or drive through any floodwaters.
• Stay away from downed power lines and electrical wires.

After

• Listen to the radio and do not return home until authorities indicated it is safe to do so.
• Be watchful of snakes that may have found their way into your home.
• Throw away all food that has come into contact with floodwaters.  (take a picture and make list of it for your claim, if you can).
• Call a water restoration company who can help you extract surface water.
• Report your loss to your agent.  

Before

• Understand the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning.  A watch means a tornado may develop while a warning means that a tornado has been sighted and you should seek shelter immediately.
• Prepare a survival kit.
• Conduct drills with your family.  Designate an area of your home as a shelter and practice your plan.
• Move cars and other outside objects inside the garage.
• Close storm shutters and board up all windows.
• Stock up on drinking water and non-perishable goods.
• Have a supply of batteries and be sure you have flashlights and a portable radio in good working condition.
• Review how to shut off utilities in an emergency with all family members.
• Have a tarp available if you suffer roof damage.
• Have an inventory listing of your belongings if time permits or take pictures of each room.

During

• Listen to the radio for important storm information and instructions.
• If at home, stay inside and away from all windows, skylights and glass doors.  Do not go outside, even if the weather appears to have calmed. 
• Lie low and use your arms to protect the head and neck.
• Do not try to outrun the tornado if in a car.  Stop the car, get out if safe to do so, and if there is no facility nearby to take shelter, lie in a low area such as a ditch.

After

• Stay tuned to the radio or television. 
• Avoid downed power lines.
• Beware and check for gas leaks or electrical system damage.
• Make temporary repairs as necessary like covering holes in roofs or windows.
• Report the loss to your agent.   

Before

• Hang heavy items such as pictures and mirrors away from beds, couches and anywhere people sit.
• Fasten shelves securely to walls and place large or heavy objects on lower shelves.
• Be sure that water heaters and other gas appliances are properly bolted down or supported on the floor or wall.
• Review how to shut off utilities in an emergency with all family members.
• Prepare a survival kit.
• Identify safe places with your family in each room, such as under sturdy desks or doorways where you can seek cover.
• Have an inventory listing of your belongings if time permits or take pictures of each room.

During

• If you are indoors, seek cover under one of the safe places identified.  Stay inside and avoid all places where glass could shatter, shuch as windows and mirrors, or where heavy furniture could fall over.
• If you are outdoors, move away from buildings, overhead wires and streetlights.  Stay put until the earthquake passes.
• If you are in an automobile, pull over and stop your car in a clear area away from bridges, buildings, overpasses and trees.  Stay in the car and after the earthquake has stopped, proceed with caution avoiding ramps and bridges that may have been damaged.  Be sure to turn on the radio for current earthquake information.

After

• Be prepared for aftershocks that may cause additional damage.
• Listen to a battery-operated radio or television if possible.
• Stay out of damaged buildings and promptly report loss to your agent.  

Before

• Give your yard a good annual clean-up and maintenance.  Prune tree limbs within 10 feet of your home, clear away dead plants or branches and remove pine needs, leaves and other debris from the yard and gutters.
• Prepare a family evacuation plan.  Have more than one escape route and designate a meeting place if family members are in different locations.
• Prepare a survival kit.
• Have an inventory listing of your belongings if time permits or take pictures of each room.

During

• Listen to the radio for important reports.
• Remove lightweight and non fire-resistant curtains from around windows.
• Place combustible patio furniture inside the house or garage. 
• Close windows and interior doors.
• Connect a garden hose to the outside tap and place lawn sprinkers on roof.  Wet the roof and any shrubs within 15 feet of the house.
• Turn on a light in each room of the house to increase the visibility of your home in heavy smoke.
• Wear protective clothing including sturdy shoes, long pants and long sleeves shirts, gloves and a bandana or handkerchief.

After

• Stay tuned to the radio or television for updated information.
• Check for hazards such as electrical shorts or gas or water leaks.  Turn off any damaged utilities and arrange for the electric or gas company to test, repair and turn utilities back on.
• Check the roof and attic for smoke, sparks and embers.
• Throw away any items such as food or medicines that have been contaminated by smoke or fire
• Report loss to your agent.