It's hurricane season... again!

In South Louisiana, the last year of 2020 has not only brought with it the uncertainty of a world-wide pandemic, but it also brought with it a historic hurricane season. 

Now, we are in the middle of another hurricane season that is predicted to have above average activity, by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. The good news is that by living in south Louisiana, we know how to prepare for a storm, and we don't just mean prepping for those hurricane parties!

Here are some helpful tips to to prepare for this year's hurricane season:

1. Plan an evacuation route. It is smart to have an evacuation plan and route before a storm hits. Know where you will go and which route you will take to get there, and always listen to instructions from your local government.

2. Have an emergency kit. When creating your emergency kit, be sure to include a three day supply of water, non-perishable food, any prescription drugs you or your loved ones may need, first aid supplies, a portable radio, flashlight, and extra batteries.

3. Protect your home. Make sure that your home is secure with home maintenance such as replacing old garage doors and tracks, cleaning out gutters, caulking doors and windows, and installing storm shutters or precutting plywood panels for windows. You should also maintain your landscaping like cutting down any weak branches or trees and keeping shrubbery around your home trimmed. This could prevent substantial damage if a storm were to hit.

4. Review your insurance policies. Make sure to review your homeowner’s policy limit, hurricane/windstorm deductible and which disasters your policy covers and which ones it does not. Have all policy paperwork and resources available if they were to be needed.