Spring Tips...

• Update your personal belongings inventory - Use this Inventory Worksheet link.
• Change your smoke detector batteries
• Review your insurance policies in preparation for the upcoming Hurricane Season (double check your deductibles).
• Double check your disaster plan - You do have a disaster plan, right?

If not, here is a good place to start, just follow this link to Charleston County Emergency Preparedness Department Hurricane Preparedness Guide

(If their website is down or the link is broken, click this link - Hurricane Preparedness Guide - to view the PDF file)

Don't forget, Springtime is Tornado season!

Did You Know...Tornadoes

• Tornadoes come in all shapes and sizes and can occur anywhere in the U.S. at any time of the year...
• Peak tornado season in the southern states: March through June...
• In an average year, about 1,000 tornadoes are reported across the United States, resulting in 80 deaths and more than 1,500 injuries.
• Total number of U.S. tornadoes in 2004: 1,819
• Total number of U.S. tornadoes in 2005: 1,264
• Total number of U.S. tornadoes in 2006: 958
• Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 and 9 p.m., but can happen all hours of the day or night.

(Source - NOAA - http://www.noaa.gov/tornadoes.html)

• In a home or building, move to a pre-designated shelter, such as a basement.
• If an underground shelter is not available, move to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and get under a sturdy piece of furniture. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.
• Stay away from windows.
• If caught outside in a vehicle, do not try to outrun a tornado. Get out of the vehicle and seek safe shelter. Lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands.
• Be aware of flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most deaths and injuries.
• Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes. You should leave a mobile home and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy nearby building or a storm shelter.
• Occasionally, tornadoes develop so rapidly that advance warning is not possible. Remain alert for signs of an approaching tornado such as a dark, often greenish sky, large hail, or a loud roar similar to a freight train.

• Make a written or videotaped inventory of household possessions/property and store in a safe place with insurance policies, documents and other valuables.
• Identify a safe location in your home--a basement, center hallway, bathroom or closet on the lowest floor.
• Take a first aid class from your local Red Cross Chapter.
• Assemble a disaster kit including: first aid kit, medications, battery-powered radio, flashlight, extra batteries, canned food, can opener, bottled water, sturdy shoes and work gloves.
• Make a utilities checklist with instructions on how to turn them off.
• Conduct periodic tornado drills.
• Listen to your local radio and TV stations for updated storm information and for instructions if a disaster occurs.
• Check your homeowners insurance policy to make sure you're covered for damage due to tornadoes.

• Call your independent insurance agent as soon as possible.
• Make temporary repairs to prevent further damage.
• Delay permanent repairs until your insurer approves reimbursement.
• Get any necessary construction permits from your community.
• Keep all receipts.
• Prepare an inventory of all damaged or destroyed personal property.
• Take photos of damaged areas.
• Save remnants of damaged or destroyed property for your insurance company adjuster.
• Meet with your adjuster first, before signing anything with contractors, lawyers or public adjusters.