LAKELAND, Fla., June 16, 2008 - Families who live in hurricane-prone areas have learned from past years how to prepare for the coming storm season. And they know NOW is the time to prepare.
GEICO associate Barbara Hodge in Florida, who has gone through Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne and Wilma, understands how crucial it is to make a family emergency plan to protect her family and their home in Lithia, Fla.
To begin with, she and her husband, Ray, have taught their three young children how to dial 911, and they've listed emergency telephone numbers near every phone. They have also dedicated the safest interior room in their home, away from any windows, as a meeting place and determined an escape route in the event of an evacuation. They hold emergency drills for the family to practice.
"Having gone through Hurricane Charley in 2004 unprepared, we have realized how important it is to begin preparing early," says Hodge. "During Hurricane Charley we had trees blown down around our house, our road was blocked and we were without power for over a week. It was a hard lesson learned, but fortunately for us no one was injured and our home was not damaged."
Once a month, the Hodge family makes sure to trim trees and remove dead branches from their yard to minimize potentially dangerous debris if high winds and rain make landfall.
"Advanced planning not only helps our own family, but also the community as a whole by helping to reduce damage in our neighborhood," says Hodge.
Here are some other recommendations that GEICO has put together for residents who may face severe storm situations:
Buy water today. The National Hurricane Center recommends one gallon of water daily per person for seven days.
Stock a disaster supply kit that includes a manual can opener, blankets, clothing, toiletries, prescription drugs, first aid kits, flashlights, a tool set, batteries, radios and pet care items.
Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact. This will ensure all your family members have a single point of contact.
Make plans now for your pets in case of evacuation.
Protect family valuables such as photographs and computers.
Keep important documents in a waterproof container, including insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, etc.
Check your home's insurance coverage. Flood insurance is usually not covered by homeowner's policies.
Keep cash on hand. Banks and ATMs may be closed.
Keep your vehicles filled with gas.
If possible, put vehicles on blocks and wrap with tarps to keep the water out.
Take First Aid, CPR and disaster preparedness classes.
For more detailed information about how to prepare for hurricane season, visit the National Hurricane Center's website www.nhc.noaa.gov or call the National Flood Insurance Program call 1-800-CALL-FLOOD ext. 445 or at http://www.fema.gov/business/nfip/.
If you are a GEICO policyholder and you need to make a claim, please contact GEICO at www.geico.com/claims or call 1-800-841-3000. GEICO's Catastrophe Teams are already on alert and ready to assist customers throughout the hurricane season.
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the fourth-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States. It provides auto insurance coverage for more than 8 million policyholders and insures more than 13 million vehicles.
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the third-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States based on the latest 12 months written premium. It provides auto insurance coverage for nearly 8.5 million policyholders and insures more than 14.4 million vehicles.
In addition to auto insurance, GEICO offers customers insurance products for their motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATV's), boats, homes, apartments and mobile homes. Commercial auto insurance and personal umbrella protection and life insurance are also available.
As a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, GEICO is rated A++ for financial stability by A.M. Best Company and ranks at the top of several national customer satisfaction surveys. For more information, go to www.geico.com.
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