• Plan ahead. Take a look at these suggestions now and take action before a storm hits.
• Look through the pre-hurricane checklists and make sure you are prepared.
• Run through these steps several times in your mind as storms approach. 

• Get the hardware items you need ahead of time.
• If you wait until the last minute, some essential items may not be available.
• Put everything you need in an easy-to-carry container.
• Don't forget to get a little bit of cash.
• Financial institutions normally close for at least two days after a direct hit. ATMs may be out even longer.
• Carry a list of important phone numbers with you.
• Be sure you have your Florida Peninsula Insurance Company account number, and this phone number to call with claims: 877.994.8368
• Know what evacuation routes you are going to take.

• Reinforce your garage door and tracks with center supports. About 80% of residential hurricane wind damage starts with entry through garage doors, says the Florida Alliance for Safe Homes.
• Bring in anything from your yard that could become wind-borne, and ask your neighbors to do the same. The greatest threat to your home in most hurricanes is not the wind itself, but wind-blown debris that can break windows and doors.
• Be especially alert and careful after the storm passes. More people are injured in a storm's aftermath than during the actual event. The most common culprits: downed power lines, sharp objects and dangerous debris. Be sure you don't use a power generator indoors or any enclosed area. And carefully assess any potential danger before beginning a repair job. Your safety is our number one concern.

• Manual can and bottle openers.
  Folding stove, oven mitts.
• A battery-operated radio and/or television along with extra batteries.
• Battery-operated lanterns and enough flashlights for each member of the family, plus extra batteries and bulbs.
• Duct tape.
• Lightweight fire extinguishers.
• Wrench to turn off household gas and water. Keep it near the shut-off valves.
• Chain saw, gassed up, oiled and ready.
• Generator.

• Plastic trash bags with ties and large, sealable plastic bags. Use them to protect important documents, furniture, clothing, blankets and pillows.
• Paper towels and plates, bowls, cups, detergent and plastic utensils.
• Toilet paper and personal hygiene supplies like shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and tampons.
• Baby supplies such as baby food, diapers and formula.
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Camera film for ''before'' and ''after'' pictures.
• Plain chlorine bleach or iodine.
• Clean, empty containers for storing drinking water: at least one gallon per person per day.
• Ice chests or coolers.
• Pet supplies, such as cat litter, a scooper and any medicine.

• Milk. Choose evaporated, dry powder or shelf-stable varieties.
• Canned foods like vegetables, soups, fish, meats, fruits and fruit juice.
• Peanut butter and jelly.
• Bread, crackers, cookies, other baked goods.
• Cereal and granola bars.
• Dried fruits and nuts.
• Bottled water.
• Vitamins.
• Instant drink mixes (coffee, tea, etc.).
• Pet food and bowls.

• A road map of the area.
• Two week supply of medications. Keep copies of prescriptions.
• A first-aid kit, which might include gauze bandages, alcohol, aspirin, cotton balls, cough and diarrhea medicine, antiseptic ointment or spray for cuts, burn ointment or spray, ammonia inhalants, adhesive tape, scissors and tweezers.
• A change of clothing and footwear, and a blanket or sleeping bag for each person.
• Citronella candles and insect repellent.
• Sunscreen.
• Towels.
• An airline crate for pets.

• Make sure your homeowners, windstorm and flood insurance policies are effective.
• Talk with your neighbors to coordinate preparation plans; help each other out.
• Develop an evacuation plan so everyone in your family will know where to go if they have to leave.
• The greatest threat to your home in most hurricanes is not the wind itself but wind-blown debris that can break windows and doors. Bring in anything from the yard that could become wind-borne -- and ask neighbors to do the same.
• Tape will not protect your windows. If you don't have impact-resistant windows, then get shutters. Plywood panels should be a last-resort option and should be prepared and fitted beforehand. Plywood that is not properly attached to your house can rip off during high winds and become a projectile that can cause serious harm to your and your neighbor's property.
• If you buy shutters, check to make sure they meet Miami-Dade County wind-resistance standards. Standards to look for include the SBCCI Test Standard for Determining Impact Resistance from Windborne Debris (SSTD 12-97) or the ASTM Standard Specification for Performance of Exterior Windows, Glazed Curtain Walls, Doors and Storm Shutters Impacted by Windborne Debris in Hurricanes (ASTM E 1996-00).
• When shopping for shutters, ask about the weight gauge or thickness. The greater the thickness (for aluminum), the stronger the shutter. However, don't buy shutters that are too heavy to be installed efficiently before a storm.
• Reinforce the garage door and tracks with center supports. About 80 percent of residential hurricane wind damage starts with wind entry through garage doors, according to the Florida Alliance for Safe Homes.
• Consider buying shutters for the doors. Be sure to shutter any door containing a substantial amount of glass, and be prepared to wedge sliding glass doors and windows. In addition, pick one door -- such as a side door to the garage -- as an entry and exit point for the house. Ideally, that would be a steel door. If you have large attic wall vents, put shutters over them, and don't forget the skylights. Remember: any window or door being breeched by hurricane forces can contribute to roof failure, so shutter up.
• Bring inside objects that can blow away, such as your mailbox, garbage cans and lawn furniture. What you can't move, anchor down. If you have window unit air conditioners, secure them tightly.
• Take ''before'' pictures of your home and store them in a secure place where you can access them after the storm.
• Cover valuable indoor furniture with plastic. If you lose your shingles and the roof starts leaking, you may save your sofa. And remember, a large tarp or roll of heavy plastic are invaluable after a storm.
• Choose a safe room, preferably an interior hallway or bedroom with no windows, to ride out the storm. Keep a mattress and a functional fire extinguisher nearby.

• Report your claim immediately by calling our toll-free claims number
• If safe to do so, make temporary repairs as necessary to prevent further damage and protect your property. Consider contacting a water extraction company to dry out your dwelling.
• Take photos of the damage prior to making temporary repairs
• Keep detailed receipts and present them to the adjuster

• Eight of the ten most expensive hurricanes ever to strike the U.S. mainland hit Florida, causing more than $60 billion in losses.
• Hurricanes are more likely to strike Florida than any other state.
• The value of Florida's insured coastal property now exceeds $2 trillion, ranking it first in the U.S.

Source: http://www.flains.org/content/view/1263/51

• More than 40 percent of the damage they caused occurred in Southeast Florida.
• Of the 158 hurricanes that hit the United States, 47 struck Florida, with 26 of them pounding the Southeast Florida coast.

1. Put masking tape or window film over windows to prevent window damage and protect families during windstorms. __True __ False
2. To avoid home damage, crack or open windows. This will allow wind pressure inside the house to equal pressure outside. __True __ False
3. You only need to protect windows and doors that face the ocean. __True __ False
4. Sandbags can prevent water from entering a home. __True __ False
5. If power goes out, you should light candles. __True __ False