steps car owners, homeowners, condo owners and renters can take to protect themselves and their belongings from hurricanes and other kinds of rough weather, say GEICO professionals and the Insurance Information Institute (LILI). 1.Check your insurance coverage. Your property insurance coverage should be enough to rebuild your home or adequately repair it. A common mistake is thinking the real estate value of a house is the sameas its insurancevalue. 2.Know the amount of your hurricane deductible and have a plan for coveringit. Review your policy papers to find the deductible that applies to your policy. If you are unsure, contact your insurance company. 3.Consider flood insurance. Flood damage is not covered by a standard homeowner’s insurance policy. Separate policies can be acquired from private insurers and the National Flood Insurance Program at www.floodsmart.gov. 4,.Keep an up-to-date home inventory. Conduct a full inventory of your major possessions and photograph all your home’s contents. This will help you determine if you have enough coverage and makes it easier to document your belongings if you need to file a claim. 5.Have your insurance information handy. Know how to contact your insurance company. Keep the phone number, e-mail address and your insurance policy number with youatall times. 6.Be prepared. Keep an emergency kit of supplies in your car and in your home that includes water, batteries, blan- Develop a family plan so that everyone knows how to get in touch with each other if they’re separated during an emergency. kets, a first-aid kit and other safety items you may need. eIf you’re warned that a natural disaster is heading your way, gather cash, credit cards, insurance information, important documents and contact information. *Keep your gas tank full in case of an emergency evacuation. Have a battery-operated radio to listen to news and weather reports and updates. *Keep a supply of necessary medications on hand. Get your car to a covered location out of the way of any trees or other objects that mayfall on it. *Don’t park in a low-lying location that’s prone to flooding and consider wrapping a tarp around your vehicle to help prevent any water damage. 7.1If you have to evacuate your area, never drive through standing water more than six inches deep; it could cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Visit GEICO’s online catastrophe center for more tips, advice and up-to-date claims facts at www.geico.com/claims/catastrophecenter/. For further information, go to www.geico.com or call (866) 272-5192.
