Evacuate – the smart way

Source: AARP.org

A longtime mobile home resident, Louise Daniels  of Naples, remembered the damage inflicted by Hurricane Andrew in 1992.  Following experts’ advice, she evacuated “tens of miles, not hundreds of miles” – in fact, only seven miles, and stayed with friends from church for a week.  Even only seven miles away from her home, storm damage at her evacuation location (a solidly built brick home) was much less severe. 

She only evacuated a short distance.  Wilma ripped the carport off her mobile home, “opening it up like a sardine can,” she says.  But her friends’ brick home “only had some trees down.”  Power soon returned, stores were opened, and she was nearby to check on things at her home.

At 80, she still drives, but is reluctant to evacuate a long distance.  “A hundred miles in my car?  No, no.  I hardly drive anymore – I do drive to the store and the doctor.  A hundred miles?  No.”

Related Articles:

Five Steps for a Safe Hurricane Season
Follow these five steps to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property during the 
Florida hurricane season.

Review your insurance
It's boring.  If you don't do it, you may wish you had. 
  
"Harden" your home against hurricane winds
Pick the right type of hurricane shutter to protect your home. 
  
Prepare two hurricane kits
One helps if you evacuate.  The other helps when you get home. 
  
Provide for your pets
Make plans to take care of your pets. 
  
Document your home and possessions
Photograph your home for insurance records.

Other Resources:

Florida Emergency Information
(For state & county emergency management specifics) . . www.floridadisaster.org

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
Registration & housing assistance . . . . . . . . .. . . 1-800-621-3362 or www.fema.org

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
Work relief and placement program . . . . . 1-800-879-6076 or www.fema.org

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
(For checking contractor’s licenses) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-866-532-1440 or http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/

Florida Department of Financial Services
(For claim information or insurance problems) . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . 1-800-227-8676 or http://www.fldfs.com/

Florida Attorney General’s Office (Price gouging hotline) . . . . . . 1-866-966-7226 or http://myfloridalegal.com/

Florida Consumer Hotline (General consumer problems) . . . . . . 1-800-435-7352 or www.stateofflorida.com

Florida Elder Helpline (County specific information and assistance) . . 1-800-963-5337 or http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us/index.php

Free, Unrestricted 24-hour Crisis Hotline
(Provided by United Healthcare of Florida) . . .. . . . . . . . . 1-877-337-4168 or www.unitedhealthcareonline.com