Be Prepared For Anything

The heart-wrenching pictures of the damage in the recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile remind us that earthquakes can strike in unexpected places and unexpected moments. It’s never too early to protect your family and home from disaster.

Being prepared turned out to be a key factor in lessening the loss of life in Chile, despite one of the largest quakes in history at 8.8 on the Richter Scale. Their stricter building codes are complemented by public awareness and earthquake preparedness.

New York homeowners can also take precautions against natural disasters such as floods and storms. As another storm season gets underway, there are several things you can do to protect your house. It may seem a long way from disaster-prone areas, but Hudson Valley insurance agents are here to help you.

Beef up your yard. A downpour will saturate the ground and make heavy trees vulnerable to falling over and uprooting themselves, especially if there's a high wind. A late snowstorm that melts after the ground has thawed can do the same damage. A late heavy snow on branches that have already leafed out will pull large branches down onto your house or car, and through your windows.

Keep your trees carefully pruned, and reinforce any of them that might look weak. Take off diseased branches and consider cutting down older trees that are nearing the end of their life cycle and planting new ones. There are options for low cost car insurance in New York, so be sure to check on that.

Strengthen your roof. In high winds, you can lose shingles, or trees might topple down on top of your house. Make sure new roofs are built to the wind rating for your area, and check all waterproofing seams and shingles. If you have a gable roof, be sure to provide a brace to the end walls to strengthen it.

Keep an emergency kit. Talk to your Hudson Valley insurance agent and get tips on what is important to have on hand in your area. An emergency radio, generator, extra drinking water and medication, and high-energy snacks are invaluable when you need them most.

You can't prevent a disaster, but you can prepare for one. What you do now will determine the outcome when the unexpected happens.