TDCI Offers Planning Tips as Part of Severe Weather Awareness Week

Monday, February 29, 2016 | 10:40am

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has declared Feb. 28. to Mar. 5, 2016, as Severe Weather Awareness Week to encourage all Tennesseans to make planning and preparing for severe weather a priority. To coincide with this awareness event, the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) is reminding consumers to plan ahead for emergencies that may result from the harsh weather that often occurs in the spring months. 

“The transition from winter to spring can bring unpredictable weather patterns with potential to put lives and property at risk,” TDCI Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak said. “TDCI is joining other government agencies and private sector partners in support of Severe Weather Awareness Week by urging Tennesseans to plan ahead. Greater preparedness can lead to increased safety not only for consumers, but for our dedicated first responders working during times of crisis. ”

TDCI shares these emergency planning tips from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC):

  • Make sure you have bottled water, a first aid kit, flashlights, a battery-powered radio, non-perishable food items, blankets, clothing, prescription drugs, eyeglasses, personal hygiene supplies, a cell phone charger or solar charge, and a small amount of cash or traveler’s checks.
  • For personal safety, identify what storm shelter is available to your family and prepare an evacuation plan. Choose two meeting places: one right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, such as a fire; and one outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home.
  • If you need to evacuate your home, turn off all utilities and disconnect appliances to reduce the chance of additional damage and electrical shock when utilities are restored.
  • Keep a readily available list of 24-hour contact information for your insurance agent and insurance company. Make a list that includes your policy numbers (both home and auto), your insurance company and insurance agent's phone numbers, website addresses and mailing addresses. Also, check to see if the company or your agent has set up an emergency information hotline, in case of storm damage. It is a good idea to store this information, and a home inventory, in a waterproof/fireproof safe or a safe deposit box. Also consider sending an electronic copy to someone you trust. If you have to evacuate your home, you want this information to be easily available to you.
  • A home inventory can be invaluable when deciding how much insurance your life situation requires to adequately insure your home in the path of a natural disaster. Digital tools such as NAIC’s MyHome Scr.APP.book lets you quickly capture images and descriptions of your belongings to help determine how much insurance you need and for filing a claim. For those without a smart phone, the NAIC offers a downloadable home inventory checklist and tips for effectively cataloguing your possessions. Both are available at http://home.insureuonline.org.

Questions? We can help. Contact the TDCI Consumer Insurance Service Division at 1-800-342-4029 or (615) 741-2218.

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