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Are You Ready for Hurricane Season?

Facts at a glance

• The beginning of hurricane season is a good time for homeowners to review their insurance needs.
• Homeowners should meet with their insurance agent to review and adjust their polices as appropriate for adequate coverage.
• Families should keep in mind the 3 Ps during hurricane season: plan, prepare and protect.

Big picture

June 12, 2012 - The beginning of hurricane season is a good time for homeowners to review their insurance policies for adequate coverage for their home and property. Homeowners are encouraged to consult with their agent and develop a complete understanding of the insurance coverage they have purchased. In addition to reviewing insurance policies, there are three things families should keep in mind during hurricane season - plan, prepare and protect:

Plan

• It's always important for a family to have a plan for emergencies. It is also important to have a clear understanding what your policy covers and be prepared for what deductibles and exclusions your policy includes – it's always a good idea to chat with your insurance agent before the beginning of the hurricane season.
• When a hurricane threatens, decide if your family will move to a safer place inland, go to a designated shelter or ride out the storm in your home.
• Make sure you stay in touch with local authorities to know the severity of the hurricane. You should also plan an escape route in case your family needs to evacuate.

Prepare

• Your home should have a survival kit prepared for any emergency. It should include:
• non-perishable food items
• first aid kit
• battery-operated radio
• a flashlight
• fresh batteries
• fresh drinking water.
• Also include other items you might need such as medication, prescription glasses and your insurance information including your home inventory (keep in a water proof bag).
• To ensure your home is prepared, cover up windows and doors using hurricane shutters. If you don't have shutters, cover up your windows and doors with 3/4-inch plywood. Make sure your garage door is closed and anchored. Remember that serious hurricane damage can occur when wind and debris get into your house through a broken door or window.

Protect

If you decide to ride out the hurricane, protect yourself. If you don't need to evacuate the area, stay indoors away from windows or glass doors. Put as many walls between you and the storm as possible. If you don't have a basement, go to a closet or a bathroom. If you need to leave the area, make sure you go directly to the shelter. A purchase of tarps or plastic sheeting may be advantageous. Take your survival kit and lock all doors and windows before you go. Let your relatives or friends know where you plan to be and give them your insurance agent's information.

Contact:

Michal Connolly State Farm Insurance, 863-318-3088

About State Farm®

State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. and is a leading insurer in Canada. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 17,800 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts - more than 79 million auto, home, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 37 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com or in Canada http://www.statefarm.ca.