Hurricane Season Is Here! How to Get Ready for a Louisiana Hurricane

During the Atlantic hurricane season, it is rare that a hurricane strengthens into a Category 5 hurricane before September 1. However, that’s what happened on July 2 when Hurricane Beryl formed, driven by hotter than normal water temperature, according to the National Ocean and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).

Beryl is the earliest Category 5 hurricane observed in the Atlantic basin on record, and only the second Category 5 hurricane to occur in July after Hurricane Emily in 2005. Beryl’s winds reached 165 miles per hour as it roared across the ocean devastating Grenada and other parts of the Caribbean. 

By the time it reached the Gulf Coast on July 8, it had slowed in speed, however, it brought high winds and severe flooding, particularly to parts of Texas, and extreme weather to northwestern Louisiana later that day.

While it’s been quiet since Beryl, we now have an area of disturbed weather in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico that has become Tropical Storm Francine, which is expected to near the coast of Louisiana on Wednesday as a Category 1 hurricane.

Although we can (and should) track potential storms, a hurricane’s path fluctuates as it powers forward, meaning residents of Louisiana can not determine the exact path of a hurricane. What does this mean for you? You have work to do and need to take action now to keep yourself, your family, and your property protected. 

Louisiana Hurricane Preparedness

If you have not done so already, it’s time to get ready for the 2024 hurricane season. The main things to consider are property insurance, supplies, evacuation plans, and who to contact when you need assistance before or after a storm. Let’s explore these important hurricane tips further.

Review Your Hurricane Insurance

As those who owned property in Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina can attest, damage to infrastructure, personal property, and businesses can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. With this knowledge, Louisiana property owners should recognize they must have adequate hurricane and flood insurance to rebuild and move forward following a similar disaster. 

Review your insurance policy for your home or business to ensure you have coverage for hurricane damage and learn how to provide evidence of hurricane damage to the insurance company if a situation warrants you to do so. Along with that, standard homeowners policies differentiate between water damage and flooding. In many instances, you will need to have an additional flood insurance policy for flood-prone Louisiana.

In addition to reviewing your insurance policies, there are other steps to take to prepare for possible hurricane damage claims.

Take Photos: To have proof of damages and loss to your home or business, take photographs before a hurricane and save them on an external drive or cloud storage. Include every room within your home and garage (including vehicles and bikes), and outside, take photos of the siding and shingles of the structure. Also, take pictures of your valuable possessions including jewelry and antiques. Creating a home inventory list can also be helpful.

Once it is safe to do so, repeat the photo process to document the home or business after the storm and include a written list of damages and the possessions you lost. An insurance adjuster may need to see damaged items so don’t get rid of anything or make any permanent repairs until you meet with them.

Claims Take Time: While you must file the hurricane insurance claim as soon as possible, recognize the insurance companies may have a long list of clients. It may take months to process and receive reimbursement for your losses, depending on the storm’s severity.

Is it fair and just? Once you receive the insurance company’s decision on how much they will pay for your claim if you believe they did not offer enough money or your claim is denied, a Louisiana hurricane attorney can help get you what you are owed.

Stay or Go: Always Have a Hurricane Kit

If you live in a storm-prone region such as Louisiana you should invest in a home hurricane kit. You will need supplies to get through the days following a hurricane which could be marred by a loss of electricity, fresh water, and clear roads for travel. It is well-known that once the storm is on the radar, residents flock to grocery and hardware stores to purchase needed equipment and supplies only to find the shelves emptied. Therefore, making a hurricane kit now will ensure you have a better chance of finding the necessary supplies.

Here’s what your hurricane kit 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
• A week’s supply of medications
• Radio (battery-powered)
• Cash
• List of emergency phone numbers
• Books and games
• If necessary, include specialty items for babies and pets

Consider Evacuating

Do you know the best routes to higher ground, and do you recognize that evacuation routes will vary depending on the specific path of the hurricane?

Long before the threat of severe weather, Louisiana residents should understand the interstate system and the routes they would take to safety if they needed to get out of harm’s way. At the same time, evacuating is not a decision to take lightly. 

Remember, a hurricane is unpredictable. Do not put your family in more jeopardy by fleeing your property without full information that it is time to do so. Therefore, pay attention to announcements by Louisiana emergency officials or local agencies such as NOLA Ready. If they issue a voluntary evacuation order, forecasted conditions may become dangerous. Officials will generally encourage you to consider relocating to a safer location. A mandatory evacuation means that everyone must leave and the forecasted conditions will endanger lives and threaten the destruction of property.

If you must evacuate, have a hurricane evacuation bag ready to take with you.

It should include food and water for at least four or five days, a portable radio, cell phone chargers, batteries, maps, clothing and personal items and toiletries for everyone, medications, pet supplies, sanitary wipes, garbage bags, and important documents.

Gather Key Hurricane Resources 

It’s also helpful to learn about key resources that can provide important information before and after a hurricane. The agencies listed below can help with disaster preparedness, evacuations, financial assistance, and more.

• For evacuation and hurricane shelter information, visit the Louisiana Evacuation Map and Guide provided by the American Red Cross. The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority offers more specific information for evacuations from New Orleans, and for Louisiana emergency shelter information and checkpoints visit Get A Game Plan.
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers information about getting ready for a storm, flood risks, financial assistance, and more.
• The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) provides disaster assistance specific to Louisiana.
• Follow emergency management agencies on social media for real-time updates, and download hurricane preparedness apps for agencies such as FEMA, American Red Cross, and local news apps for mobile access to information and alerts.
• Sign up for outage alerts and updates from your utility providers so you know when your services will be restored.

Let Us Help with Your Hurricane Damage Insurance Claims

Another thing to consider during hurricane prep is finding a Louisiana hurricane damage attorney before the storm hits. Why you may ask? Filing a hurricane damage insurance claim can be complex and frustrating for Louisiana homeowners and business owners managing the aftermath of a storm. An attorney can do the work for you and negotiate on your behalf with insurance providers to ensure a successful property damage claim.

Being prepared for the arrival of a hurricane is the best way to protect yourself, but in the event your home or business experiences hurricane damage you can contact Herman, Katz, Gisleson & Cain to help. Our team of Louisiana hurricane damage lawyers specializes in hurricane insurance claims, and we want you to receive an appropriate insurance payout. We can answer your questions and help you secure the compensation you deserve as swiftly as possible. Contact us online or call (844) 943-7626 for a free case consultation.

.