Hurricane season began June 1 and will run through the end of November. Hurricanes and tropical storms can cause a lot of damage, so it is important to be prepared.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting a below-normal hurricane season for the Atlantic basin this year with a forecast of 8-14 named storms. Just remember, it only takes one storm to cause incredible damage. Preparation is key. Here are a few suggestions from GUC and ready.gov.
Develop an Evacuation Plan
When developing your plan, keep in mind you don’t need to travel hundreds of miles away. NOAA says you can go to a friend or family member’s home that is well built and with higher elevation. Learn more about how to develop your evacuation plan at ready.gov.
Assemble Disaster Supplies
Assembling disaster supplies are a necessity. NOAA recommends having enough non-perishable food, water, and medicine to last for three days for each person in the household. Take a detailed look at how to build your emergency disaster kit at www.ready.gov/kit.
Get an Insurance Checkup
Call your insurance company and make sure you have enough insurance to repair or replace your home and belongings should they become damaged during the hurricane season.
Create a Communication Plan
Write down your hurricane plan and share it with the people in your household. Make sure everyone knows where to meet and have a list of emergency contacts, including your utility services providers, on that list.
If you are a GUC customer, our Emergency Hotline, 1-855-767-2482, is always available to give you a quick and easy way to let us know if you are having a utility-related emergency.
Strengthen Your Home
Prepare your home for hurricanes, as well. NOAA encourages you to trim trees, install storm shutters, and/or impact glass, and seal outside wall openings. If you are a renter, work with your property management or landlord to help prepare.
