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Please be aware that this list is a compilation of suggestions to help you prepare for inclimate weather. For additional information please refer to FEMA (http://www.fema.gov) and the Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org).


PLAN AHEAD!

With custom made hurricane shutters requiring weeks or months for delivery, orders and backlogs will rise when a storm approaches. The time to choose your protection if you haven't already, is now. If you plan to have shutters installed, call today.

Contact an ASSA member to avoid companies that pop up just before a storm approaches. ASSA members are licensed and insured, use products that are tested and approved. ASSA products meet the latest building codes through out the coastal United States and the Caribbean.

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Check Shutters Before a Hurricane

As Hurricane Georges was approaching in 1998, South Floridians were putting Storm Panels on their homes. Quite a few people found out that the panels did not fit or that they were short a few panels. Some people did not even know how to install the panels.

It would be advisable to check out your storm protection now, while you have time. When buying Storm Panels, be sure to have the installer show you how to install the panels. It is also a good idea to number each panel and opening.

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Preparation Tips

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Securing Your Home

You can shutter now. Or you can "shudder" later.

Chances are that's what will happen when a hurricane heads towards your area and you realize you haven't made any plans to secure your home.

"Take the necessary steps ahead of the hurricane's arrival to protect your home and its contents. That will help people get back in their homes as soon as possible," says Jim Martin, former director for American Red Cross Disaster Emergency Services.

Martin suggests that all homeowners make individual disaster plans; steps they'd follow in the event of an impending storm.

"First on the list should be determining if you live in an evacuation zone" says Martin, adding that "many area residents don't know if they do."

Securing homes and yards against the impending storm is crucial as well. No matter how much you do, it will help. The more protection you have, the faster you can return to normal conditions. If a storm comes and your windows are blown out and you have flooding, you'll now have to live somewhere else. And it's a tremendous problem to find housing post-hurricane.

So, just what should you do to protect your home, its contents and your yard before the storm threatens?

"Protect the total envelope of the home," says Stu Voigts, product merchandise manager for the Southern Division of Home Depot.

"There's a misconception among consumers that if the windows are OK, then the house will be OK," he says. "But, homeowners need to protect the windows, the patio doors, entry doors and the garage doors and roof. If the 'skin' stays intact, the chance of the house staying intact is much greater."

Wind entering a house through a broken window or garage door will weaken the integrity of the structure, says Martin. "When a window blows and wind enters the house, it has no place to go but up. The goal is to keep the wind out."

Garage doors are one of the most overlooked and weakest areas of a home.

"When high winds cause the garage doors to give way, a good portion of the home is exposed," Martin says. Then, wind that enters the home forces the roof to blow out.

"You have to have some way to secure the sides of the door, and brace the center, so it doesn't buckle," he says, adding that most companies will offer braces that can help to strengthen the doors.

Cliff Hunter of Home Depot, who's traveling through stores in the area and teaching associates about hurricane preparation, suggests that homeowners installing new garage doors consider one that is hurricane-rated. They may be pricier than others, and probably should be installed professionally for best protection, he adds.

Proper attachment to the structure is the key to whatever hurricane protection product homeowners choose, Hunter says.

"The minimum thickness for plywood [to cover doors and windows] should be five-eighths inch," says Hunter. "But thicker is better."

Steel shutters get approval from many people although three-quarter-inch plywood will suffice. Steel is heavy to handle and requires pre-drilling, pre-mounting and storage.

"Anything is better than nothing," Hunter says. "There are a number of products made from plastic, PVC and aluminum. Basically it becomes an issue of money, installation, maintenance and aesthetics. You have to consider the type of windows you have and what you have to protect."

Martin suggests that homeowners make sure their removable shutters are in good shape. "Have them numbered so you know which windows they go to" he advises.

And should homeowners not have to evacuate, they should have considered window protection on the room within the house that has been designated as a 'safe room.'

It should have limited window area and be devoid of skylights. Skylights may be secured by fastening a cut-to-size piece of plywood that has been covered with plastic to the inside of the light. If they do go, this method may help to keep wind and rain out.

Keeping the house in good repair is advised and so is checking the roof for loose shingles.

Many people don't even think about the wind turbines that dot their roofs. They're very vulnerable to being blown off during high winds and will leave a gaping hole for rain to come in.

A popular suggestion to solve this problem is to purchase caps that can be installed over the turbines when a hurricane threatens.

"The biggest problem is getting on the roof," Hunter says. "People may want to look at having the turbines replaced with a different style of vent that has a lower profile."

"Make sure there are no leaks in the roof," notes Martin, adding that it's good to keep a roll of plastic or some plastic garbage bags on hand, so that valuable items such as furniture and computers can be protected during the storm if a leak occurs.

"Check insurance policies to be sure they're up to date and coverage is adequate," notes the Florida Department of Insurance in its brochure 'Are You Prepared? A Hurricane Checklist for Insurance Consumers.'

'If the policy doesn't cover the current value of your home and its contents, you should consider increasing your coverage,' according to the pamphlet.

And get started early - long before a storm threatens. "You can't save lives and your house unless you prepare yesterday," says Hunter.

Careful planning and preparation might save your life when the Big One comes howling ashore, and it surely will help keep your misery index to a minimum in the dreary aftermath.

Don't fall into the trap of thinking it won't happen here, that somehow that whirling wall of wind and rain will steer clear at the last moment.

"People in South Florida thought the same thing before Hurricane Andrew: 'It can't happen to me.' That's a fact of life that indeed it is going to happen someday," said Bob Sheets, retired director of the National Hurricane Center in Coral Gables.

"You may be one who's not affected. But the consequences of not preparing for it can be catastrophic."

Sheets, who spent 30 years in the hurricane forecasting business, said people in South Florida and coastal South Carolina know full well the destructive power of a hurricane after Andrew in 1992 and Hugo in 1989. But people living on the fringes of those areas might not fully appreciate what such massive storms can do.

So, being ready is the key to getting yourself and your family through the storm with as little pain and discomfort as possible.

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Protecting your Business

Virtually all economic activity in the devastated south Dade area ceased following Hurricane Andrew. An estimated 8,000 businesses and 100,000 jobs were seriously impacted.

Use the following list to prepare a Business Disaster Recovery Plan:

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Adequate Insurance Coverage

No one wants to think about what might happen if a hurricane destroys their home, but doing a little research now might save a lot of heartache and money later on.

Homeowners should take time to review their insurance policies, preferably with their agent, said Janet Long, an administrator with the consumer services division of the state Department of Insurance.

Hurricane Andrew, which caused more than $26 billion in insured losses in 1992, has redefined insurance in Florida. Most companies have raised rates significantly and some homeowners are finding it difficult to get coverage.

If you own a home, you probably are insured against property losses. Check to make sure, though, because some people who don't have a mortgage - and a built-in insurance payment - may have let their insurance coverage lapse. And there's always the possibility the policy has been canceled.

Also, always know the name of the insurance company and the policy number. Keep documents in a safe place - perhaps a fire-proof safe box or safe deposit box at the bank. It also wouldn't hurt to list your belongings and maybe even photograph or videotape them.

After the storm, do whatever you can to protect the house and contents from further damage by rain or from looters. Take pictures of the damage before making repairs. The insurance company generally will reimburse you later. Call your insurance company as soon as possible.

Does your policy include "law and ordinance" coverage? In 1993, the state Legislature required insurers to offer coverage to pay the cost of upgrading a damaged house to meet current building codes. Some companies automatically include this in a policy. Others don't. But they must offer it to you.

Here's an example of what can happen without this coverage. After a tornado destroyed several Pinellas Park homes in 1993, a local flood zone ordinance prohibited owners from rebuilding unless they raised the ground elevation by 12 feet. The same thing happened to some homeowners in Dade County after Andrew, costing homeowners tens of thousands of dollars. "There was nothing in the insurance policy to pay for raising that elevation by that much,'' Long said.

Additional considerations:

Have you built a room addition or pool, or otherwise added value to your home that is not reflected on your policy? If so, notify your insurance agent immediately.

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Care of Older Adults

In Florida, we are particularly vulnerable to hurricanes and older adults are especially susceptible to their effects. Those who live alone or are without the support of family and friends must take special precautions in the event of an emergency situation. People who are frail or disabled (either mentally or physically) may need special assistance from family members, friends or social service agencies.

Older adults who are also caregivers may require outside assistance. Excessive stress and anxiety can contribute to increased episodes of illness, particularly for persons with heart disease and other illnesses. If an older adult lives in a nursing home, congregate facility or boarding home, the administrators should be contacted to learn about the evacuation plan for that facility.

Home health care and homebound patients should:

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Taking Care of your Pets

Pet owners are responsible for hurricane planning for their pet. If you plan to evacuate, plan for your pet as well. Take a pet survival kit if you go to the home of a friend or relative or to a hotel.

Red Cross shelters cannot accept pets, so if you plan to go to public shelter, make other provisions for your pet. Limited space is available at "pet shelters" on high ground. Contact your veterinarian, the SPCA, Humane Society or Animal Control for more information.

After the storm has passed be careful in allowing your pet outdoors. Familiar scents and landmarks may be altered and your pet could be easily confused and become lost. Downed power lines, along with animals and insects brought in by high water could present real dangers to your pet. Take care not to allow your pet to eat any food or drink water which may have become contaminated.

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Here is a list of items you will need to survive a hurricane:

If you purchase any items after a storm, get a receipt. Insurance may cover costs of emergency food and ice.

If you are evacuating you may have to stay in a shelter for a while. The Red Cross does not allow alcoholic beverages, weapons or pets in shelters.

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Here are suggested items to bring to a shelter:

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