Are You Ready for Hurricane Season? Follow This Louisiana Hurricane Prep Checklist

Louisiana residents know that hurricane season can bring destructive winds, flooding, prolonged power outages, and costly property damage. From Hurricane Katrina to Hurricane Ida and more recent storms, hurricanes have repeatedly demonstrated how quickly lives and communities can be disrupted across the state.

Preparing before a hurricane is one of the best ways to protect your family, home, and business, and to support your financial recovery. In addition to creating an emergency plan and assembling essential supplies, homeowners should understand their insurance coverage, document their property, and know what steps to take if an insurance company delays, underpays, or denies a valid claim.

Knowing your legal rights is also part of being prepared. If an insurance company later delays, underpays, or wrongfully denies a valid hurricane claim, an experienced Louisiana hurricane damage attorney can help you understand your options and protect your interests.

This Louisiana hurricane preparedness checklist outlines practical steps to take before, during, and after a storm so you’ll be better prepared to protect your safety, property, and insurance claim.

What You’ll Learn

In this article, you’ll learn:

• How to prepare your family, home, and business before hurricane season and when a storm is approaching.
• What to include in a hurricane emergency kit and evacuation go-bag.
• How to document property damage and strengthen your hurricane insurance claim.
• When it may be time to contact a Louisiana hurricane attorney if your insurance claim is delayed, underpaid, or denied.

How to Prepare for Hurricane Season in Louisiana

There are several ways to prepare for hurricane season. Creating an emergency kit and emergency plan, making your property as safe and protected as possible, having adequate property insurance, and being aware of the risks are all part of hurricane preparedness.

Hurricane Emergency Kit

An emergency kit should be created well before any hurricane hits. It’s best to have one ready at all times because many items in a hurricane kit could be difficult to purchase if Louisiana residents know a storm is coming.

Hurricane emergency kits should include:

• Three days (minimum) of non-perishable food for every member of your household
• Three gallons of water for each person
• Can opener
• Flashlights
• Batteries for flashlights, radios, and any other helpful battery-operated items
• Candles and matches
• Over-the-counter medication
• Radio (battery-powered)
• Cash
• List of emergency phone numbers
• Books and games

If you have young children or pets, make sure the emergency kit has diapers, baby items, pet food, a leash, and anything else these vulnerable family members need. Also, get a week’s supply of all prescription medications when a disaster is expected and add them to your hurricane emergency kit.

Hurricane Emergency Prep & Go-Bag

Limiting hurricane damage to your home and business is important. When a hurricane approaches and is expected to hit Louisiana, regularly monitor the weather and the news so you’re updated on risks in your area. Cover windows with boards if able, secure or store loose items on your property, such as patio furniture, and trim trees, all of which are susceptible to damage from high winds during hurricanes. Charge cell phones and set your fridge and freezer to their lowest settings. Limit how often these appliances are opened to keep the contents fresh during power outages.

Make sure to have fuel for generators, a full tank of gas, and a place to go to in case of evacuation. If you stay and lose power after a storm, know how to safely use generators to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, a deadly risk that kills people every year during natural disasters.

One of the most important ways to ensure your safety is to follow mandatory evacuations if issued. These occur when there is an extreme danger to life, and failure to evacuate can have devastating consequences. Plan your routes (with alternatives) to an emergency shelter or other destination if necessary to evacuate. 

Make sure loved ones in the area are prepared and agree on a location to meet them. Louisiana residents living in mobile homes should not stay in them during a hurricane because it’s too dangerous. The structural integrity and protection a mobile home offers are simply inadequate.

In addition to securing and protecting property, prepare a go-bag with items you may need if you have to evacuate or leave your home on short notice. 

A hurricane go-bag should include:

• Clothing for everyone in the family, including weather-resistant items
• Sunscreen
• Water bottles
• Cell phone chargers
• Pet supplies
• Evacuation routes
• Emergency phone numbers
• Toiletries
• Sanitizing wipes
• File folder of important documents

The documents to include are identification, insurance policies, and birth certificates. Paperwork and IDs are easily lost in a hurricane when a home is severely damaged or flooded, so keep them in your go-bag. If possible, use a plastic or weather-resistant folder or bag to protect these items from the elements.

Food, medications, and water should be added to your go-bag, among other necessities in your emergency kit. If you’re headed to a shelter and can carry it, bring bedding. Just remember that you may have to walk part or all of the way with these items if roads are impassable and there’s limited space in shelters, so only take what’s necessary. Lastly, remember to review your hurricane emergency plan with everyone in your family.

Hurricane Insurance Prep & Claims

Navigating before and after natural disasters can be overwhelming. While ensuring your family’s safety is paramount, properly compiling hurricane insurance claims is crucial to ensure you’re compensated for losses.

Before the storm hits, take pictures of your personal and business properties and every room within, as well as any vehicles you own. Take photographs of your shingles, siding, and all of your possessions. This way, you’ll have the evidence needed when it’s time to make a hurricane insurance claim. Keep a copy of everything on a flash drive and the internet, just in case the physical copy is lost.

Once a hurricane has passed and the initial dangers have cleared, photograph all your property and vehicles again. Make a written list of damages and lost possessions, too. Having a list and before-and-after photos gives hurricane insurers proof of damage and losses from the disaster. It can also speed up your claim and reimbursement.

Hurricane insurance claims should be made as soon as possible. It can take months to process and receive reimbursement for your losses. And if your insurer refuses to pay or doesn’t offer enough, the sooner you know, the sooner you can consider your legal options.

Louisiana Legal Claims Against Hurricane Insurers

The cost of hurricanes in Louisiana is high, and it’s essential to know the dangers, be prepared, have hurricane insurance, and know how to protect yourself and your family. Part of this is having an insurance policy that covers more, not less, than what you may need. Many property owners don’t realize they need to pay extra for flood insurance, even though it’s one of the most costly and common hurricane risks. While some things are irreplaceable, adequate hurricane and flood insurance can help you rebuild and move forward following a disaster.

Unfortunately, some insurers act in bad faith – they undercompensate policyholders – and when they do, you should contact a Louisiana hurricane attorney. You should also seek legal advice if what they offer is much less than what your policy covers or if your claim is denied. And if you’re simply unsure if you are entitled to more money, it’s also worth getting legal advice.

Louisiana faces a known hurricane risk, and the hurricane-damage attorneys at Herman, Katz, Gisleson & Cain have helped residents secure the financial support they need and deserve. Just last year, we helped many clients in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, ensuring their insurance providers paid what they were owed. We are available to help Louisiana homeowners and businesses recover the insurance proceeds they need to rebuild and move on after a storm.

For more information or a free case evaluation, contact Herman, Katz, Gisleson & Cain online, use live chat, or call us at 1-844-943-7627.