Disaster Risk Reduction Starts at Home: Prepare for Central Florida’s Hazards
Protect What Matters Before the Next Storm
Recent events in Florida are an important reminder that home disaster preparedness should be part of homeownership. Hurricane Isaias recently impacted Northwest Florida, including the Pensacola area, bringing damaging winds, flooding, property damage, and widespread power outages.
Start with a Household Plan
Choose a safe place to shelter, map evacuation routes, and decide how your household will stay in touch if power or cell service fails. Keep medications, important documents, water, and pet supplies ready to go.
Check Your Home’s Vulnerable Areas
Inspect the roof, windows, doors, trees, and gutters before storm season. Address loose materials and poor drainage early to reduce the chance of wind damage or water intrusion.
Make Recovery Easier to Navigate
Photograph your home and possessions, store copies of key records securely, and review policy limits and deductibles. Having this information on hand can make post-disaster decisions clearer.
On International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, homeowners and future buyers should remember that protecting a home is not only about maintaining the property—it is also about being prepared for unexpected events.
One important step is reviewing your homeowners insurance. RE/MAX Heritage – The Bardell Team is a real estate brokerage, not an insurance agency, so buyers should speak directly with a qualified insurance professional about appropriate coverage. Florida’s Department of Financial Services explains that homeowners insurance may provide financial protection against covered events such as hurricanes, fires, tornadoes, and tropical storms.
Homeowners should also create a home emergency kit. Ready.gov recommends having supplies such as water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit, phone chargers, important documents, and other necessities that can support your household for several days.
Another important part of Florida home disaster preparedness is keeping an inventory of your belongings and storing insurance documents, receipts, photographs, and important contact information in a safe location.
Buying a home means planning for both everyday life and unexpected situations.
At RE/MAX Heritage – The Bardell Team, we help buyers and sellers navigate the Central Florida real estate market and make informed decisions about homeownership.
Home-Readiness Checklist
- Clear gutters and drains
- Trim branches near the roof
- Inspect roof and windows
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
- Locate water and power shutoffs
- Secure loose outdoor items
- Save local emergency alert sources
- Update household contact numbers
- Choose an out-of-area contact
- Review insurance coverage and deductibles
- Photograph rooms and valuable belongings
- Store policy numbers in a safe place
- Refresh drinking water and shelf-stable food
- Check prescription and first-aid supplies
- Charge backup batteries and power banks
- Replace flashlight batteries
- Restock pet food and care items
- Review supplies before storm season