Hurricane Season is Here. Are You Prepared?

Jun 7, 2023

It's officially hurricane season. For the next 6 months, we will obsess over cones of uncertainty and spaghetti models. However, before our emotions start to take over, we need to make sure that we are prepared. As we witnessed from Ian last year, hurricanes can shift quickly and cause catastrophic damage with little warning. See below for a Property Preparation Checklist for what to do now to protect your property and set yourself up for a quick recovery. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Property Preparation Checklist:

Review Insurance Coverage - What types of damage does your policy cover? How much will the insurance cover? Do you have the funds for anything not covered? Do you need business interruption insurance? Public Adjusters and Insurance Claim Attorneys can help review your policy.
Create a Routine Maintenance Schedule - Simple things like tree trimming, generator maintenance, roof, window, and door maintenance can make a huge difference in the amount of damage done during a storm.
Create or Update Your Preferred Vendor List - Having established relationships with vendors before the storm will keep you from scrambling to find someone and from worrying about getting scammed after the storm. You can also pre-negotiate contracts with these vendors in the event of a storm.
Document, Document, Document - Can you prove that all the furniture that got washed out to sea was actually in the building? Can you prove that water damage is from the wind and not from a poorly maintained roof? Do you have as-built drawings of your property? Insurance Companies will try to deny you coverage if you can't prove it. The more documentation, photos, and videos you have, the easier it is to prove.
Have a Plan - What needs to be done when there is a hurricane coming and who is responsible for it? Residents and/or employees will need to be notified of what to do before and after the storm. Also, the property will need to be prepped (closing hurricane shutters, opening gates, securing the property, etc.)

How RGA Restoration Can Help:

Document the Condition of the Property Before the Storm - As a licensed architect, RGA can prepare a report and as built drawings of the property, giving you powerful documentation if there is damage.
Preferred Vendor - The time to find reliable vendors to get back up on your feet has already passed if you're doing it after the storm. You open yourself up to scams and fraud from unscrupulous contractors and others, charging exorbitant fees. With RGA as a preferred vendor, we can help you prepare before the storm hits, then provide project management and team building services after the storm to get your property back up and running. RGA can also provide expert witness services in the event that your insurance claim ends up in litigation.
For more information, please contact Paula Barca at pbarca@rga-design.com or 813-226-2220 x204.