Storm periods can be worrying for homeowners and travelers alike. If you are in Canada during a hurricane, you want to make sure your family, home and all of your property is safe. Do you have the right home insurance coverage? Will it protect you from a hurricane, a tornado, or a major flood? If you are traveling or abroad, you may also have concerns. The storm period is June to November. Those are the big windows of the house that can interfere with your travel plans if you don’t plan ahead before your trip.

You may be concerned about trip stops or property damage if you stay in a resort or private rental. And, what if you leave when the typhoon hits Canada again? Do you have the right insurance? Depending on where you live, some areas won’t allow you to purchase hurricane insurance after a hurricane or exotic tornado watch has been issued. Therefore, you need to prepare it in advance.

Use these hurricane-period preparedness tips so you don’t get left behind at night.

When is the Hurricane Period?

The storm period is usually June to November. If you are traveling overseas, you should check the forecasts prior to production resorts and booking the trip. Locations that may be affected by a hurricane include the Gulf coasts of the US, Mexico, Main America and Canada’s Atlantic Coast. Not all locations are hit by hurricanes but the weather can be unpredictable.

Typhoons on the classification of some are not serious. However, for typhoons that fall into category 4 or 5, this can be devastating and sometimes deadly. Therefore, it is best to monitor the weather during these months of travel and travel only with travel insurance to protect your trip.

Travel insurance is available in various forms, consisting of:

• Trip delay and termination coverage
• Trip interruption and stoppage coverage
• Coverage of damaged warehouse and baggage
• Clinical coverage if you need to visit a doctor, dentist or most likely the ER

Will My Home Insurance Cover All My Hurricane Damage?

In Canada and some parts of the US, once the federal government issues a travel warning or advice, it is usually too late to buy travel insurance. Therefore, you should be prepared for the storm period very early. Start with your home insurance coverage. Standard home insurance coverage can cover damage triggered by rainfall, hail, and wind. If you live near a flooded area, you may need additional protection especially for floods. Swamps are considered to be rising splashes that appear above the ground such as from a river or lake.

How Do I Know What Insurance Will Change?

Talk to your home insurance agent about your particular plan. Ask if you are covered for replacement value or real value.

Tips

• Take stock of your possessions for insurance purposes. Take pictures and video clips and consist of the serial number of the electronic device you have.
• If you live in a location prone to frequent flooding, move collectibles, photo albums, and electronic devices from the basement to a larger floor.
• If you get a lot of rain damage from a leak in your roofing system, make the necessary repairs and don’t keep expensive individual props or mementos in the attic space.

Will My Home Insurance Cover Damage to My Car?

No, if a hurricane damages or puts your car in trouble, you will need to file an insurance claim with your auto insurance provider. Here is an example.

An Instance

A tree fell on your house and car. You will definitely file an insurance claim with your home insurance provider for damage to your home. After that, file a different claim with your car insurance provider for damage to your vehicle.

Tips

• Bring wide coverage on your vehicle. This ensures you have protection from a tornado or hurricane.
• If you have more than one vehicle, consider a multi-vehicle plan.
• You may also want to combine home and auto insurance at a discount.

Will My Home Be Covered By Insurance If I Leave Before the Tornado?

Your home or flood insurance and windstorm coverage are in place throughout a tornado whether you’re at home or away. However, you should check your plans. Some plans may have a specific time limit for the length of time the property owner can leave before their plan is deemed void. You should also prepare your home so that it is not damaged or damaged by a hurricane. And, make sure you have duplicates of your insurance documents online.

To protect your home:

• Use shutters to protect your windows or include plywood on top
• Move yard furniture and movable outdoor components such as indoor plants
• Generate all the trash cans and grills
• Disconnect all your equipment and turn off the spark plug and mains power
• With evacuation, tell neighbors where to find you

Remember

If you must remain with a friend or family member or in a shelter during a typhoon, your costs are not covered by home insurance. However, if you return home and your home is uninhabitable, home insurance will cover the cost of living.

What Should I Do After a Hurricane? How Do I File an Insurance Claim?

Once the authorities determine it is safe to return home, you can evaluate your home and property for any issues. Take photos and video clips to validate your insurance claim. You must take action to reduce the damage or your insurance may not cover the additional costs. Let’s look at an example.

An Instance

You have broken house windows and holes in your roof system. Instead of manufacturing repairs, you leave the windows of your house and your house is then vandalized. Rain enters your roofing system and you currently have a mold and mildew problem. Your insurance provider may refuse additional damage charges.

Tips

• Lay plywood or tarpaulin over the broken windows of the house and place the tarp over the roof system until it can be repaired.
• Monitor the repairs you make and save all the invoices you have.
• Contact your insurance provider as soon as you return to the property to file your claim.
• Get stock of all properties you own that are damaged for insurance purposes. You can use your previous pictures and video clips versus your current pictures and video clips.
• Maintain the account of the insurance representative you talk to, day and time.
• Remember that it is repairing your home and get their contact information in case you need it in the future.
• For repairs, get a quote in writing and only use a licensed contractor.
• Do not perform significant repairs or dispose of damaged individual property until your insurance provider has inspected the property.
• If you absolutely must stay elsewhere while repairs are being made, save your resort and food bills. You may be paid for this by your insurance provider.
• Talk to your insurance provider. If you think your negotiations are unreasonable, you can ask for more damages but you may need to speak to a lawyer or contact public authorities. Contact your insurance regulatory authority if you need to file a complaint or have a problem.

Travel Tips for Hurricane Period

If you intend to travel during a hurricane period, here are some tips:

• Check country travel advice before you book and before you leave
• Purchase travel insurance to cover trip and resort stops.
• Give your travel plans to family and friends (but stay off social media – sometimes victims of home burglaries while individuals are away).
• Fill in the emergency situation contact area on your ticket. Give copies of your insurance and travel documents to a reliable friend or relative.
• Sign up for the Canadian Overseas Registration website for emergency travel solutions.
• Recommended hurricane preparedness tips in the countries you are visiting.
• Get the latest projection information for your location and where you are traveling before you leave.
• Prepare for emergency situations with covers, warm clothing, cellular radio and batteries. It should also have a flashlight, food and sprinkles and medicine for you and your pet.
• Decide on a place to protect your pet in a place away from locations that may be affected
• If you get hit by a typhoon, turn on the radio for a statement. Local authorities may also remain in the site’s production statement. If it is necessary to evacuate, heed the instructions of local authorities. Take your emergency situation with you and make sure it includes the medicines you need.
• Contact the nearest consular office or consular office or contact the Center for Emergency Surveillance and Response in Canada. This service is available 24 hours for Canadians seeking emergency assistance at (800) 387-3124 or (613) 996-8885 (phone calls may be made if a solution is available). You can also email them at [email protected]

Protect Your Trip with the Best Travel Insurance

No one can anticipate how a hurricane period can affect a location. But, you can protect your trip and protect your home. Check with your insurance provider to make sure you carry the right home insurance coverage. And, verify if you need to purchase flood insurance. If you go overseas, purchase travel insurance for travel, resorts, and health care.