Every year tornado season seems to come up faster than the year before. The months where tornadoes are most active are March-June, so whether we are ready for it again or not, tornado season is here once again.
To ensure your family is prepared for the season, follow these three tips:
Keep a tornado kit
Homeowners should have a tornado readiness kit available in their storm resistant location for whenever bad weather may strike. This should include:
- Food and water
- Lighting and extra batteries
- Fuel like propane or gas
- A battery-powered radio
- First aid kit, including any necessary prescriptions
- Cash
- Insurance records and other important documents
Items to have on hand for after the tornado include basic hand tools, roof repair materials and a portable generator.
Take inventory of your assets
To help with any possible insurance claims surrounding property damage or loss after a storm, homeowners should make an inventory of their property using video, pictures and checklists. Update this inventory annually and whenever a significant purchase is made to ensure all items are included. Sometimes insurance companies will offer a place to store this information in the cloud, or you can get your own cloud-based account.
Review your home insurance policy
Dealing with insurance companies after a storm can be a hassle. It is especially frustrating if they try to deny coverage or claim damage was the result of an incident before a tornado touched down. You can potentially avoid this by reviewing your existing policy and knowing exactly what you are entitled to after a storm.
You can get a free insurance claim review now, which can help either identify gaps in coverage and allow you to update your policy now, or it can arm you with necessary information about your policy in the event a claim is denied.