By: Charlene Webb

Katrina. Charley. Ivan. Rita. Wilma.

For those of us living near coastal regions, these names don’t just conjure up images of people we once knew. They are instant reminders of the fear, loss and sometimes utter devastation that Mother Nature can cause. But planning for the effects of a catastrophe reaches far beyond the shores of Maryland are and well into every corner of our country. If these names have taught us nothing else, they have shown us that catastrophes impact all Americans. As a nation and as a community, we must be financially and emotionally prepared to meet these challenges head on.

And still, as we enter another unpredictable hurricane season, many have “hurricane amnesia” about the kinds of precautions that must be taken to prepare for a disaster. A recent national study conducted by Allstate found that nearly half of coastal residents are not prepared for a large hurricane and more than half don’t even have an evacuation plan. These are startling statistics. There are many things consumers can do individually and that we, as communities, can do collectively to mitigate the damage today and improve the recovery efforts tomorrow. At the very least, we need a comprehensive, integrated approach to collectively serve homeowners in coastal regions and provide real answers when a catastrophe strikes. In fact, three-quarters believe that government is moving too slowly in developing a comprehensive plan and should make this a top priority.

Vital to this integrated approach is establishing catastrophe funds at the state and national level. These measures have the potential to increase capacity and help stabilize markets, prevent insurance availability problems and reduce insurance costs for consumers.

At home, families can and should prepare themselves for the worst-case scenario by gathering necessary survival items and getting their personal affairs in order. By simply updating their family disaster response plan and gathering updated evacuation information and a list of nearby shelters, any family can get another step closer to being prepared. Other important steps to consider include:

• Prepare a first-aid kit as well as a disaster supply kit and have them stocked and easily accessible. The disaster supply kit should contain a three-day supply of water and ready-to-eat, non-perishable foods as well as utensils, personal hygiene items, extra clothes, blankets and shoes. Each family should think about any special needs, such as medications, eyeglasses or baby products, and be sure to stock those as well. And none of us can forget to store travelers’ checks or extra cash.
• Put your personal affairs in order by organizing important paperwork such as financial information, important phone numbers, wills, insurance policies, immunization records and passports in waterproof containers. Inventory and photograph your personal property and household contents.
• Pay attention to the physical condition of your home and make any repairs or improvements now. Look closely at the roof, windows, doors and garage openings.
• When it comes time for recovery, being organized and prompt in reporting your insurance claims is crucial. Special procedures may be set up by your provider and, in our case, Allstate will bring in the National Catastrophe Team (NCT) of claims professionals who specialize in helping communities recover from hurricanes and other catastrophic events. You can visit www.allstate.com/catastrophe for more information on disaster preparedness and recovery.

We may or may not add to the names on the hurricane list this year, but as we enter another hurricane season, add catastrophe preparation to your list. Let’s enter this season as cohesive communities ready to work together, and let’s forget about the hurricane amnesia.

Charlene Webb is the Exclusive Agent and Owner of Webb Insurance Agency. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, with a BS degree in Business Education and is celebrating five years of service with Allstate Insurance Co. Webb Insurance Agency of Allstate Insurance Company offers a complete product line which includes helping families protect their lives, homes, cars, boats and businesses to helping prepare children for college by offering 529 plans to getting ready for retirement using various financial services products such as IRAs, mutual funds, and annuities. We offer annual reviews of current policies to ensure you are up to date on your current needs and goals and to help you protect the assets you have worked hard to earn. Her office is located at 494 N. Dupont Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and she can be reached at 302-736-6475 or on her website at www.allstate.com/charwebb.

Testimonials:

“I couldn’t have asked for a better agent than Charlene Webb who is more than our agent but a friend that always looks out for us and our needs. We love her, and God bless her.” ~ G. Charlene Cotter

“Charlene is a very nice person, a great agent who’s always going out of her way to please her clients. Customer service is always great, and I appreciate the help she has not only given me but my entire family. She is so pleasant to work with.”~ Susan Mannon