As most of you know, June 1 marked the start of Hurricane Season. This year forecasters are predicting a near-normal hurricane season which means a 70 percent chance of having nine to 14 named storms, four to seven could become hurricanes, including one to three major hurricanes (Category 3, 4, or 5).
Since we are in the mindset of making preparations for this hurricane season by gathering the essentials like food, water, batteries and such, we thought it was important to remind you about getting your important paperwork ready for hurricane season as well.
Once you get all the important documents together, put them in a safe place that you can easily access if necessary. Some people feel more comfortable bringing their important paperwork with them—if that’s the case, make sure you use a container that will protect the materials from the elements, such as a fire-proof lockbox. Others feel more secure with their paperwork tucked away in a safe deposit box—most financial institutions have such boxes that can be rented for a small monthly fee. Or maybe you have all of your documents in an electronic format—if that’s the case, there are a number of web-based safe deposit boxes that can be accessed from any computer. Whichever option works best for you, it’s important to take a few minutes to make certain your paperwork is in order before the storm. That way you can concentrate on more important things, like your family’s safety, when the hurricane hits.
And remember if you do have to evacuate, it’s a good idea to have some cash on hand. Sometimes ATMs may not be accessible or the electricity may be out after a storm, so it’s good to have both cash and your debit or credit card available.
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