Florida Property Owners Forced to Prepare for Hurricane Milton Days After Hurricane Helene

Florida is no stranger to hurricanes, but the threat of Hurricane Milton, following closely on the heels of Hurricane Helene, is unimaginable. If you’re still dealing with the destruction of Helene or in the path of Milton, it’s crucial to take immediate and proactive steps to protect your property, family, and, most importantly, yourself.

“There are simply no words to describe the extraordinary intensification we have witnessed in this storm today,” US Stormwatch weather analyst Colin McCarthy posted on X.

Clear Debris and Secure Loose Items

After Hurricane Helene, your property may be littered with debris that can become dangerous projectiles in Milton’s high winds. Items left unattended can exacerbate damage and pose significant risks to life and property.

Clear Your Property

If it’s safe to do so, take pictures of your property and the damage from Hurricane Helene. Remove fallen branches, shingles, and other debris from your yard to prevent them from becoming hazardous during Hurricane Milton.

Secure Loose Items

Bring in patio furniture, grills, bicycles, and any other loose items that could be lifted by the wind. Consider securing heavy items with tie-downs.

Check Local Resources

If you have large hazardous debris, contact local waste management or disaster relief services for assistance in removal. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis “ordered all disaster debris management sites to remain open to allow 24-hour drop-off,” reported by 10 Tampa Bay.

Hurricane Milton Resources

For a county-by-county guide on what to do with debris before Hurricane Milton makes landfall, read the following guide: DEBRIS CLEANUP: Here’s a county-by-county guide on what to do with debris ahead of Milton.

We’ve created a state-by-state guide for those affected by Hurricane Helene and those preparing for Hurricane Milton. Our team will continue to update the guide as more resources become available. To find the resources in your state, read our complete guide: Hurricane Emergency Resources.

Document the Current State of Your Property

As Hurricane Milton approaches, it’s important to document the current state of property and any damage sustained from Hurricane Helene. Given the close proximity of the storms, knowing which hurricane caused what can come in handy during the claims process. That being said, your safety is our top priority. Do not document your property if it isn’t safe to do so.

Thorough Documentation

- - Take Photos and Videos: Capture comprehensive images and videos of any damages.
  - Create an Inventory: Make a detailed list of everything in your home or building, including their condition, value, and any repair work already being accounted for from Hurricane Helene.
  - Use Time Stamps: Time-stamp your photos and videos to establish when the photo was taken. This can come in handy during the claims process.
  - Physical Copies: Keep physical copies of important documents in a waterproof container.
  - Digital Back-Up: Use a secure cloud storage service to upload essential documents like insurance policies and identification papers.

Organize Your Records

- - Save a Copy of Your Insurance Policy: If you haven’t already, contact your insurance carrier and request a full copy of your insurance policy.
  - Keep All Repair Estimates: If you’ve received any repair estimates since Helene and are expecting to be hit by Milton, keep those documents handy.
  - Compile Correspondence: Gather any emails or messages with your insurance carrier or contractors regarding damage from Helene, as these can serve as supporting evidence in your claims.

Our team is in the field rapidly trying to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene and are prepared to do the same for Hurricane Milton. For assistance in your recovery, contact our team today!

Fortify Your Property’s Defenses

Hurricane Milton’s winds can exploit any weaknesses left behind by Helene. Now is the time to reinforce your property against further damage. The next 24 hours will be crucial.

- - Hurricane Shutters: Install hurricane shutters or board up windows with plywood. Secure doors with deadbolts and door braces to resist high winds.
  - Gutter Maintenance: Clear your gutters and downspouts so they can handle heavy rainfall and direct water away from your foundation as much as possible.
  - Use Sandbags: Consider placing sandbags at the base of doors and windows to help prevent flooding from Hurricane Milton. To properly make and place your sandbags, follow the Florida Disasters step-by-step guide: Hurricane Milton Sandbag Usage.

Evacuation Plan

Hurricane Milton is projected to be a storm for the history books. It became a Category 5 storm this afternoon and is expected to maintain speed as a Category 3 or 4 when it makes landfall in Florida. If you are a Florida resident, we urge you to take the gravity of this storm seriously and protect yourself. Having a solid evacuation plan is a top priority.

- - Stay Informed: Monitor updates from the Florida Division of Emergency Management and your local county news outlets for evacuation orders and safety tips.
  - Pack Essential Items: Prepare a go-bag containing necessary items such as important documents, medications, clothing for at least 72 hours, and pet supplies (if applicable).
  - Designate an Evacuation Route: Know your evacuation routes well in advance and share them with those you know outside of Hurricane Milton’s path. Plan alternative routes in case primary roads are blocked. Keep gas in your vehicle and consider a full tank before the storm hits.

Your Safety is Priority #1

With Hurricane Milton fast approaching, Florida property owners must take immediate and decisive action to protect not only their property—but, ultimately, themselves. While the thought of facing another hurricane is daunting, your preparedness can make all the difference. Above all, your safety is our priority, and we stand ready to support you every step of the way. Contact our team today for hurricane assistance.

Hurricanes are among the most destructive natural disasters, bringing devastatingly high winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges that can cause widespread damage and loss of life. These powerful storms can strike coastal areas and inland regions with little warning, and leaving residents with only a short amount of time to prepare. In this blog, we’ll explore the dangers & tips for a hurricane so that you can weather the storm.

Dangers

Understanding some of the most severe dangers posed will better prepare you for anything the storm throws your way.

- Devastating Winds: A hurricane can be accompanied by strong winds up to 200 miles per hour. These winds can cause significant damage to buildings or completely destroy them. Vehicles, infrastructure, power lines, and trees are all susceptible to immense damage and can become airborne, which poses its own dangers.

- Heavy Rainfall: Alongside devastating winds, hurricanes bring flood-inducing rains potentially causing landslides. Rising sea levels have provided hurricanes with an ample supply of water to produce monstrous storm surges.

- Storm Surges: When water level rises dramatically at abnormally high levels storm surges occur and they have the ability to travel several miles inland. Storm surges wreak havoc and leave destruction for miles.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Governor DeSantis of Florida surveys the destruction that spread across Fort Myers. In an interview with BBC, DeSantis comments, “To see a house just sitting in the middle of Estero Bay, literally must have gotten picked up, flown because of the massive wind speed and the storm surge and depositing in a body of water.”

Tips

It’s clear hurricanes are forces to be reckoned with, destructive, dangerous, and downright terrifying. For your safety, it is important to properly prepare and have plans in place.

- Evacuate: If local authorities have given the order to evacuate, listen and follow the prescribed protocols. Don’t wait.
- Supplies: Stock up! The time to prepare is before the storm (previous post link). This is important whether you evacuate or stay, but it’s all the more crucial if you weather the storm. You need several days, to weeks, of supplies to be prepared.
- Secure your Property: If you haven’t read our Day 3 Post for Hurricane Preparedness Week, Review Your Policy– We discuss the importance of reviewing your policy and why it’s important to not only protect your property from potential damage, but document it.
- Stay Informed: Always have access to current weather information from your local authorities and the National Hurricane Center. FloridaDisaster.org recommends an NOAA Weather Radio that is battery operated or hand cranked. For a downloadable checklist, click here!
- Stay Indoors: The volatility of a hurricane poses too high a risk to venture outdoors once the hurricane hits. Avoid windows and doors.

Be informed and prepared to endure the devastatingly high winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges hurricanes bring. Widespread damage will be imminent. However, employing these tips and knowledge about this destructive natural disaster gives you the best chance at safety and security. For more information on the dangers & tips for a hurricane, please visit Prepare before the storm.

Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana in 2021, and now in 2022, Hurricane Ian is impacting Florida, with a projected hit on Thursday. Hurricane Charley arrived at 150 mph in 2004, but wind speed isn’t the sole threat of a hurricane. Storm surge and storm tide, life-threatening risks for Florida residents during Hurricane Ian, have prompted a Storm Surge Warning in Tampa. Rising water along the coastline will swell and can invade several miles inland. While you can’t prevent a hurricane from coming, you can take a few actions to prepare for the storm.

Hurricane Tips:

- - Secure your home as best you can.
  - Prepare to evacuate.
  - If you don’t have permanent storm shutters, the NOAA recommends 5/8” exterior grade or marine plywood.
  - If your area didn’t evacuate, find the innermost area of your home away from windows or any other glass that could shatter in the storm.

If your local officials direct you to evacuate, don’t hesitate. Your life means more than any possession.

Have you located your property’s policy?

A hurricane brings immense stress, damage, and chaos. Don’t let the worry of finding your policy add to the burden. Secure your vital documents now; this will save time and headaches after the storm passes and the community begins cleaning up.

Download the Premier Claims Hurricane Checklist here. For hurricane tips and guidance on how to prepare for the storm, follow Premier Claims. We’re ready to assist after the storm. Contact us today to ensure that you’re ready to manage any property damage.

Hurricane Milton Hits Category 5 Status—Prepare Yourself