Disaster Preparedness for Oklahoma Homes and Businesses: A Practical Guide

Hello, dear Oklahomans!

Our beloved state, with its stunning sunsets and wide-open spaces, is also no stranger to the whims of Mother Nature. From the sudden fury of tornadoes to the unexpected wallop of hail damage, natural disasters are a part of our landscape.

But with a little preparation and the right knowledge about your insurance coverage, you can stand strong against whatever comes your way.

Let’s dive into some crucial steps for disaster preparedness, focusing on emergency kits, insurance policies, and staying informed about potential disasters.
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Essential Emergency Kit Contents

Creating an emergency kit is one of the most straightforward ways to prepare for any natural disaster. Your kit should include:

• Basic Supplies: Water (one gallon per person per day for at least three days), non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, and a NOAA Weather Radio.
• Important Documents: Keep copies of key documents, like your insurance policy and personal identification, in a waterproof container. This includes your homeowners insurance policy, auto insurance policies, and any separate policies for specific coverages like flood or earthquake insurance.
• Specialty Items: Remember medications, pet supplies, and any special needs items for children and elderly family members.

Updating Your Insurance Coverages

The aftermath of a natural disaster is not the time to discover gaps in your insurance coverages. Regularly reviewing your policy with your insurance agent ensures that your coverage meets your current needs. Consider the following:

• Natural Disasters and Your Insurance Company: Not all insurance policies cover damage from natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or flooding. Standard homeowners insurance policies may cover wind damage but often exclude flood damage and earthquake damage. Engaging with insurance professionals to understand the specifics of your coverage is crucial.
• Flood and Earthquake Coverage: Given Oklahoma's susceptibility to extreme weather events, looking into separate flood insurance policies and earthquake insurance is wise. While private insurance companies offer additional coverages, it's important to understand the cost of earthquake insurance and the process for flood insurance claims. Remember, areas deemed high-risk flood areas require specific attention, especially if you're in flood-prone areas.
• Insurance Providers and Policy Endorsements: Discuss with your insurance agent about policy endorsements that can add or extend coverage. This could be crucial for covering the costs of repairs or replacement of personal property. Adequate insurance, whether it's for your home, car, or business, means assessing the risk of potential disasters and ensuring your policy limits reflect the true cost of repair or replacement.

Preparing for Specific Disasters

• Tornadoes and Wind Damage: Oklahoma's tornado season demands that property owners have a plan for shelter and an emergency kit ready. Reviewing your insurance policy for wind damage coverage ahead of time can alleviate some of the financial stress should disaster strike.
• Floods and Water Damage: Severe flooding and water damage require a separate flood insurance policy, as standard home insurance policies typically exclude such coverage. If you live in a high-risk flood area or even a flood-prone area, discussing flood risks with your insurance provider is essential. Coverage for food spoilage and other less-thought-of damages, like spoiled food due to power outages, should also be considered.
• Earthquakes: The cost of earthquake insurance and ensuring you have adequate coverage can protect you from unexpected financial burdens. Earthquake damage, while less common, can be devastating without the right insurance coverages in place.

Final Thoughts

Preparing for natural disasters involves both practical steps, like building an emergency kit and creating an emergency plan, and financial preparation through comprehensive insurance coverages. Whether it's damage from wildfires, winter storms, or severe flooding, understanding your insurance policy and working closely with insurance providers can offer peace of mind. Don’t forget the importance of a complete home inventory for filing natural disaster claims and ensuring you have coverage limits that truly protect your assets.

In our community, we look out for each other. Staying informed, prepared, and properly insured means we can face whatever challenges come our way with confidence.

If you have any questions or need to update your policies, I'm here to help. As an independent insurance agency that specializes in home insurance, auto insurance, business insurance, and life insurance options from a variety of carriers, we can find the best solution for you at a great value. 

Together, we can ensure that when it comes to disasters, we're ready to weather the storm.

Stay safe, and remember: You'll want coverage Sooner rather than later!

get coverage for your oklahoma city home!

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Scott Godwin
Founder

Oklahoma Insurance Professionals LLC serves Oklahoma City and the surrounding Oklahoma communities by protecting the people we work with just like we protect our own family members. Home insurance, auto insurance, business insurance, and more. We can help you find the coverage you need. ​