Is Your Pompano Beach Home Prepared?

4/15/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® has over 50 years in the cleaning and restoration business and we follow strict guidelines.

Predictions regarding hurricane season have begun to surface. Hurricane season is one of those important issues that should talk about with your family.

Some of the things you should talk about with your family concerning a potential threat of a hurricane is:

Escape Routes –

If a storm comes, or even a fire, find a location to meet up in an emergency. Make sure each family member knows where that location is.

Evacuation Plan –

One reason my family loves South Florida is the fact that hurricanes can be tracked and prepared for in advance. There are usually a few days to decide whether we should evacuate or ride it out. Other states are not as fortunate such as the states in tornado alley or states where earthquakes are prevalent. It’s important to maintain a full tank of gas should you need to leave at a moment’s notice. Most gas stations are closed the closer the storm gets.

Maintaining Contact –

Because families don’t always stay together during a hurricane, make sure that you have a plan in place to stay in contact with one another.

Utility Shut-offs –

SERVPRO® of Pompano Beach offers a service to our customers called the Emergency READY Profile (ERP). While this is customarily provided to commercial buildings, the ERP is a great tool to have even for your home. It is a good all-in-one resource to keep all emergency and utility information in one place. Sometimes we are instructed to shut off our utilities to prevent additional dangers. Knowing where these shut-offs are located on your property is important when time is of the essence.

Our team at SERVPRO® of Pompano Beach offers this service free of charge AND there is an app so that all this same information is at your fingertips on your smart phone or tablet.

Insurance and other important documents –
My family keeps all our important information in one, secured, water-proof box we call the strong box. It contains all insurance information, passports, titles to property we own and anything else we would want to grab quickly should we need to evacuate. You can also store these same documents in a safety deposit box outside of the home. The great thing about an ERP is that most people keep their phones on them. If for some reason you can’t grab your strong box, you can access your information on the app or even on any computer with internet access. It’s another level of preparedness for you and your family.
You’re also going to want to review your policies and the extent of the coverage they provide to make sure you’re covered.

Flood Insurance –

South Florida is flat. We are located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Everglades. Both bodies of water cause flooding so even those that aren’t in a flood zone have the risk of being affected by a storm surge or heavy rain. Purchasing flood insurance gives you a little extra peace of mind and will assist you in the recovery process.
Have a Reliable Restoration Company –
When storms come, so do fly-by-night companies. The intention is to take advantage of victims at weak moments to gain a quick buck. It’s so important to make sure that you have someone you can trust. SERVPRO® of Pompano Beach is a nationally branded company that reports to our corporate office on a regular basis.

SERVPRO® has over 50 years in the cleaning and restoration business and we follow strict guidelines to ensure that we take care of your home after a disaster strikes.

Money –

My mother is very frugal. She knows how to keep money on reserve for emergencies and it has always come in handy when we needed it. Having a stash set aside for emergencies is very important. Keep some at home in a safe place that you can grab quickly as you may not be able to access a bank for several days or even weeks depending on the extent of the damage. You’ll also want to have a savings account dedicated to emergencies.

Special Needs –

For the elderly and those with special needs, make sure that you take the extra precautions needed to assist them in a time of crisis. Autistic children, for example, are dependent on routine so it’s important to try to keep them calm and as close to their routine as possible yet safe.

Pets –

If a storm comes, don’t leave your pet. Either take them with you or find a shelter that can provide for them while you’re gone. Pets cannot take care of themselves. If you leave them behind, they either will not survive or they may be hard to locate after a storm.

Call SERVPRO® of Pompano Beach (954) 970-4942 to schedule a time to create your Emergency READY Profile and get you well on your way for this hurricane season.