58 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • OCTOBER 2018
PRESS HOME
MAKING HOME STORM READY
continued from page 57
“We know that it’s not if, but when,
a disaster will strike,” says Nicolette
Louissaint, Ph.D., executive director
of Healthcare Ready. “Disasters can
be unpredictable and cause widespread
destruction across communities,
so it is essential individuals
do their part and prepare as much
as possible.”
Although 72 percent of Americans
think natural disasters are
occurring more often, fewer than a
quarter have prepared their homes
for severe weather, according to a
study the Property Casualty Insurers
Association of America released
last year. Only 22 percent of Americans
have a disaster response plan,
18 percent have conducted a home
inventory, and 23 percent have taken
action to mitigate storm damage
their property, the study showed.
While the Atlantic Hurricane Season
peaks in late August and early
September, as Sandy showed
when it hit days before Halloween,
a late-season tropical cyclone is still
possible, albeit less likely. After all,
the season runs June 1 to November
30.
So what else can residents do to
prepare their homes for a major
storm beyond the oft-repeated
personal-protection directives to
charge mobile devices, clear yards
of potential projectiles, have an
evacuation plan, take out cash,
and pack a storm kit for worst-case
scenarios?
Insurance experts suggest residents
take an inventory of valuables
that could become damaged in the
event of having to report a loss.
This can include taking photos of
those valuables. Homeowners and
renters should also talk with their
insurer before a storm hits in order
to be clear on what types of damage
are covered, as most policies do not
cover flooding.
“Having flood insurance meant
having one thing less to worry
about,” said Rupi Prasad, who lost
almost everything in Hurricane
Harvey.
In addition, there are several basic
steps that homeowners can take to
help prevent or minimize the impact
of flooding, according to the Federal
Emergency Management Agency.
The agency suggests homeowners
that live in a high-flood-risk area
elevate their furnace, water heater
and electric panel. FEMA also recommends
installing “check valves”
to prevent floodwater from backing
up into drains. And homeowners
can seal walls in their basement
with waterproofing compounds.
But what is one to do if the next
storm comes sooner than a contractor
can complete such projects?
Sandbagging basement doors and
any other ground-level doorways
during the storm event is a perfectly
acceptable stop-gap measure.
And although as a coastal area LI
is more likely to face flooding, as the
recent tornado that touched down
in Ronkonkoma showed, residents
should not discount the threat of
wind damage, either.
Those who use gas-powered
generators should also make
sure they have a working carbon
monoxide detector. (Photo by Lisa F.
Young/Shutterstock)
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