Hurricane season prep to do in May

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and the Eastern Pacific season starts May 15. A flood insurance policy bought today usually takes effect 30 days from now. Do the jobs that take weeks in May, before the season opens.

Know your zone and your plan

Find out whether you live in an evacuation zone, and make sure everyone in the house knows the plan. Decide now where you would go, which route you would take and who you would call.

Read your insurance

Most homeowners and renters policies don't cover flood damage, and they typically exclude earthquakes too. Flood coverage comes from a separate policy, and a National Flood Insurance Program policy usually starts 30 days after you buy it.

Read your declarations page for the deductible too. A deductible can be a dollar amount or a percentage, and the page shows which yours is.

An annotated example

What to do next

1. 1

   Find your evacuation zone

   Look it up on your county emergency management site and write it on the plan card.

   10 min

2. 2

   Read the policy's flood and wind terms

   Check for a flood exclusion and the deductible type on the declarations page.

   20 min

3. 3

   Update the home inventory

   Make a complete list of your belongings before severe weather, with photos and receipts.

   60 min

4. 4

   Have the gutters and drains cleared

   The work is done from a ladder, so book a gutter service or a handyman.

   15 min

5. 5

   Stock the supply kit

   Include medication, disinfectant and pet supplies, and plan to be without services for days or weeks.

   30 min

6. 6

   Store copies of your documents online

   Keep copies in a secure, password-protected digital space, and check that you can open them from your phone.

   20 min

When a storm is on the way

Bring in the outdoor furniture, and put up storm shutters if you have them. Stay off flooded roads. Six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and 1 foot of moving water can sweep a car away.