Same week, different year. This time last year Georgians were stunned by the power and force of Hurricane Irma. It was hard to imagine so much damage could be done so far inland by a hurricane. Yet, the northeast Georgia mountains suffered some of the worst damage of the storm.
Now, another major storm is threatening the east coast and Georgia is again under a state of emergency.
Forecasters now say Hurricane Florence is expected to reach the Carolina coast early Friday. The Weather Channel says it could be one of the strongest hurricanes on record for this part of the East Coast.
State of Emergency
While it is still unclear how big an impact the storm will have on Georgia, the governor issued a state of emergency Wednesday for all 159 counties. Earlier, State Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens warned homeowners it is critical to prepare for a potential strike.
“Being prepared can save lives, property and a lot of misery,” says Hudgens. “With Florence quickly approaching, I’m urging all Georgia residents to take action to protect themselves, their homes and their businesses.”
5 PM EDT Sept. 12: Here are the Key Messages for Hurricane #Florence. https://t.co/bculNU7eyB pic.twitter.com/eTl8amV0A8
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 12, 2018
Commissioner Hudgens recommends that property owners make copies of their insurance policies, obtain insurance company’s phone number; inventory their personal belongings; and keep all of these documents with them should they be forced to leave their homes.
He also suggests following these storm preparation tips:
- For personal safety, identify what storm shelter is available to you and prepare an evacuation plan.
- Make a plan for your pets. Not all emergency shelters will take pets.
- Contact your insurance agent immediately if you have had damage to either your house or car; do not delay. Your agent should provide you with claims forms and arrange for an insurance adjuster to visit your property or look at your automobile.
- A typical homeowner’s policy does not cover damage from flood waters. A separate policy must be purchased through the National Flood Insurance Program. Coverage usually goes into effect 30 days after the policy is purchased.
- Unlike a typical homeowner’s policy, a mobile home policy usually includes flood coverage and does not have to be purchased separately.
- Secure your property. For example, if your roof was damaged or blown off, or a tree has pierced the roof, cover the affected area with a tarp or plywood to protect your property from further damage. Keep receipts of materials used for repairs; your insurance company should reimburse you for repair costs.
For more tips and strategies to keep your family and property safe in a storm, visit Ready Georgia.
For questions about your insurance policy, or if you’re experiencing trouble reaching your insurance company, call the State Insurance Consumer Services Hotline at 800-656-2298. Phone lines are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Photo: Irma took down over 500 trees in Habersham and numerous power lines along with them. (Kara Usher)
Updated 9/12/18@8pm
