The South Carolina Department of Insurance Encourages
South Carolinians to be Storm Ready
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Hurricane season starts today, June 1 and with it comes the threat of severe weather across the state. It is important to be weather wise and prepared. Ray Farmer, Director of Insurance, cautions South Carolinians to be mindful of the potential weather threat over the next few months and offers important information and tips that will help protect their property from the damages associated with severe weather.
“Now is the time for everyone to review their emergency plans to ensure they are prepared for the severe weather we may encounter from hurricane season,” advises Director Farmer. “We urge all South Carolinians to take a few moments to ensure that they are storm ready.”
How to prepare for hurricane season:
- Make an emergency plan and discuss the plan with your family. Engage your family in planning, so that everyone knows what to do and when to do it.
- Know Your Evacuation Zone- Know Your Zone is a public education campaign to inform the citizens and visitors of South Carolina of the hurricane evacuation zones and their vulnerability to storm surge. Please visit scemd.org/KnowYourZone to learn more.
- Prepare an emergency kit. Make sure you have nonperishable food, water and a first aid kit handy. It is best to also collect important documents and keep them in one place for easy access in the event of an evacuation.
- Review your insurance policy. As you make your preparations, review your insurance policy as it is important to know what your policy covers and what it excludes long before a severe weather event occurs. Review your policy with your agent to understand the coverage and exclusions.
- Prepare your home and property. Develop a room-by-room inventory of your home. Take pictures, write down items in each room. A home inventory checklist is available on our website here.