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Tropical Storm Erika ended up as a large rainstorm, but the season is here and the truth is no one can know for sure. That’s the way it is with weather. Florida’s Emergency Operations Center was activated, with officials acknowledging that Erika could result in anything from a rainy weekend to a category 3 hurricane.
So, what are you doing about it? Now is a good time to put this hurricane season checklist to work because if you wait until the threat of a storm is a certainty, it’s too late. Insurance companies don’t allow changes on coverage when a natural disaster is a sure thing. And, if you are still debating whether or not you should buy flood insurance, you can’t wait until the water is lapping at the front door. Flood policies from the federal government have a 30-day waiting period before going into effect.
It’s never a waste of time to make your home more disaster resistant and to restock your disaster supply kit. BIG TIP: Know your evacuation zone. If you are supposed to evacuate, please do. A recent poll shows that about one-third of Floridians would not evacuate in a Category 1 storm. That scares the heck out of emergency managers, who know more about the impacts of severe weather threats than the average person. Listen to the experts, please.
If you are ordered to evacuate, trust in your county emergency management office. If they get it wrong, at least you will safe so you can complain about the weather. courtesy of iii.org