Woodstock, GA Home Hurricane Preparation Guide Steps & Checklist For Security

by PRC Agency PR

Brace for Impact: How to Protect Your Home and Family During Hurricane Season

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts another active hurricane season is coming. Are you truly prepared for the powerful winds and heavy rainfall these massive storms can bring?

Across Georgia, residents still have vivid memories of the devastation caused by recent hurricanes. In 2018, Hurricane Michael slammed the state with severe flooding and caused over $100 million in agricultural damage alone. The year before, Hurricane Irma left over 1 million people without power.

Most recently, Hurricane Idalia hit Lowndes County hard in late August 2023. The storm brought damaging winds, heavy rain, and flooding that impacted nearly 1,000 homes in the county. Emergency management crews have been working non-stop to clear debris, restore power, and coordinate recovery efforts with state and federal officials.

Don't Get Caught Off Gaurd

This hurricane season, empower yourself by taking proactive steps to safeguard your home and family ahead of potential disaster. White Oak Insurance Services has compiled a comprehensive guide to help Georgia residents prepare for Hurricane Season. They are taking insights from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the Georgia Red Cross, and Georgia Emergency Management Homeland Security.

This guide covers everything you need to know, from reviewing your insurance coverage to creating an evacuation plan. Below, we are sharing some insights from the How To Prepare for Hurricane Season guide provided on the White Oak Insurance Services website.

Check Your Insurance Policies

One of the most important hurricane prep steps is confirming you have adequate insurance to weather the storm's impacts. Contact a knowledgeable agent to review your homeowner's policy and address any coverage gaps before disaster strikes.

At a minimum, make sure you have the following:

Wind damage coverage: Standard home insurance does not cover damage caused by winds over a certain speed. In hurricane-prone areas, it's essential to get supplemental windstorm insurance. This will cover repairs to your home, other structures on your property, and belongings damaged by high winds.
Flood insurance: Flooding is among the most common and costly hurricane impacts. According to FEMA, just an inch of water in your home can cause over $20,000 in damage. Homeowner's insurance does not cover flood damage, so you'll need a separate policy from the National Flood Insurance Program. There's typically a 30-day waiting period before coverage kicks in, so don't delay.
Replacement cost coverage: If your home or possessions are completely destroyed, you'll want extended replacement cost coverage. This pays the full cost to replace your belongings and rebuild your home up to a certain percentage over your coverage limit.

Independent insurance agencies like White Oak Insurance Services can provide an in-depth policy review and help customize your coverage for maximum protection. Their experienced agents will walk clients through all the options.

Create a Home Inventory

In the aftermath of a hurricane like Idalia, an up-to-date home inventory can be instrumental in filing an accurate insurance claim and getting fairly reimbursed for damaged or destroyed items.

A written inventory listing all your possessions is ideal. Go room-by-room and record model numbers, serial numbers, purchase prices, and photos. Online inventory tools like Sortly and Encircle make it easy to catalog and share this vital information with your insurer.

Store paper copies of your inventory in a fireproof safe or bank safety deposit box. You can also back up digital inventories on a cloud storage service so they're accessible from anywhere.