Hurricane Irma is continuing to tear a deadly path through the Caribbean, causing widespread destruction and reducing buildings to rubble, on a track that could lead to a catastrophic strike on Florida.
Florida is braced for a possible direct hit from as early as Friday night, with forecasters predicting it could strike the entire Atlantic coast and rage into South Carolina and Georgia, where a mandatory evacuation has been ordered.
Our Clearwater Hurricane Claims Lawyers at Whittel & Melton want you to be prepared. We have compiled a list to help you get ready for Hurricane Irma.
- Get some good LED flashlights and lanterns right now. I your local stores are out, you can still order from Amazon and get delivery tomorrow! The general rule of thumb is to have at least one flashlight for every person in your family. A lantern or two is great to have for additional lighting.
- Take photos of anything valuable! This includes electronics. Take pictures of all your rooms so you have everything documented. Upload your pictures and store them somewhere safe (Dropbox, Microsoft Cloud, iCloud, Google Drive, etc.) before the storm hits.
- While you’re taking pictures, snap some photos of critical documents and upload them as well.
- Keep your photos and other important documents safe by storing them in double plastic bags. You can also use trash bags for larger photos or documents.
- Roof leaks can happen in a storm this aggressive, so store some clothes in plastic bags and duct tape them closed. We recommend placing valuables on a high shelf in a closet.
- Park your car someplace safe, ideally a garage. Try to avoid a low-lying area or under a tree.
- Use your dishwasher as an alternative to a “safe” in your house if you need someplace to put valuables. Your washer and dryer also offer good protection!
- Select a friend or relative out of town to be the contact point for your family or group of friends. Make a plan to check in after the storm!
- Know evacuation plans for your area or building in case of an emergency. Make sure you know where to go and what to do. If you live near the water, put together food, clothes, valuable items, and important papers you’ll take with you now. Don’t wait! Leave as early as possible.
- Your cellphone should not be counted on for communication. The storm could very well knock out service. Or your battery may die and you won’t be able to recharge it.
- You should have a portable AM/FM radio that you can leave on so the entire family can hear what’s going on with the storm.
We are all hoping that Irma weakens or stays away, but we must prepare for the worst. The hurricane is most likely going cause devastation to at last some parts of our state. We urge you to take action now!
After the storm, if you have property damage related to Hurricane Irma, we can make sure that your insurance company is held accountable. Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your claim. Call us at 727-847-2299 or contact us online.