Forecasters are saying Hurricane Sandy could develop into a major nor'easter - or it could miss us entirely. However, it appears that chances are increasing that it could impact the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

It's important not to wait for until a hurricane is at your door to have a plan and take precautions to protect your property.  Check out our article on Prepare yourself for the Hurricane, It contains links to lots of helpful sites and checklists for preparation.

Before the Storm

• Stock up on water, non-perishable goods and batteries for three days
• If you can't board up windows, using duct tape will reduce shattering
• Make sure your car is filled up with gas
• Withdraw cash because in the event of power loss, ATM's will not function
• Take pictures/videos of valuables in case they are damaged by the storm

Teaching Your Kids about Natural Disasters and Preparation. FEMA has great information online to teach kids about disasters and being prepared. Check out FEMA: Ready.gov for Kids.

Coverage for Hurricane Damage

When a storm is on the way, we commonly get questions about coverage. In general terms, home policies (i.e homeowner, condo and renter policies) provide coverage for property damage caused by wind, wind driven rain and flying objects. This is also generally true for commercial property coverage. 

Fallen trees are a concern. Coverage for downed trees can vary depending on the insurance company, but in all cases, insurance companies limit tree/debris removal coverage in order to keep home insurance premiums down for everyone. A basic home policy generally provides limited tree removal coverage up to $500 if trees fall on covered property. Some insurance companies provide slightly higher amounts and may cover tree removal when a covered building is not involved when you purchase a special endorsement to your home policy. Tree coverage is subject to your policy deductible. 

In coastal areas, flooding may be a concern. Flooding; however, is generally not covered by such policies and requires a separate flood policy, check with your independent insurance agent for more information.

NOTE:  Once a hurricane has been announced, binding insurance coverage in an affected area may not be possible. For flood insurance, there is a 30-day waiting period after purchase before coverage is

After the Storm

• Make Temporary Repairs to extensively damaged structures
• Protect Property from further damage
• Take pictures of damage and repairs
• Keep good records
• Secure a repair estimate

We know this is a challenging time for you and your family. Please rest assured that most Local Independent Insurance Agents will be by your side throughout this hurricane. We care about your well-being and will do everything we can to help get you back to normal in the unfortunate event that any of your covered property is damaged.