THE SMITHFIELD TIMES
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE
2020 Disaster Preparedness Guide 2020 Tropical Storm Names Arthur ✔ Bertha ✔ Cristobal ✔ Dolly ✔ Edouard ✔ Fay ✔ Gonzalo
Hanna Isaias Josephine Kyle Laura Marco Nana
Omar Paulette Rene Sally Teddy Vicky Wilfred
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2020 | 1
2 | WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2020
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE
Flood risk calculator eliminates guesswork STAFF REPORT
If questions about flood insurance costs are keeping you from signing up, a new online tool can help you do the math. Hampton Roads planners and emergency managers, working with the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, have developed a free Flood Risk Calculator that takes the guesswork out of insuring your home from flooding. Funded in part by a grant from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the calculator tool is a new feature at GetFloodFluent.org, a website and regionwide public awareness campaign that provides information about flood risks in Hampton Roads. The Flood Risk Calculator uses the standard rate tables provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s national flood insurance program. By answering a few easy questions on the online tool, residents will receive a baseline rate to determine what they may pay for flood insurance. “Our calculator is specifically designed for residents of Hampton Roads, to help them make informed decisions when talking with their flood insurance provider,” said Ben McFarlane, a senior regional planner with the HRPDC. “It’s an easy first step to understand the factors that determine the cost of flood insurance
before you call an insurance company and select your level of coverage.” Using simple language, the calculator guides users through prompts for entering their flood zone, occupancy type, how the home is structured and their preferred coverage for the building and its contents. In 2019, the average yearly premium for flood insurance in Virginia was about $737, or $61.40 a month. Flood insurance is not only recommended for homeowners; renters and business owners should also be insured. With a busier than normal Atlantic hurricane season on the horizon and communities still coping with the effects of a global pandemic, having flood insurance means one less thing to worry about. “Anywhere it can rain, it can flood,” McFarlane said. “In our region, it doesn’t even have to be raining for flooding to occur. It can come from storm surge, high tides, or sustained winds.” McFarlane also wants residents to know that the uninsured cannot rely on federal disaster assistance after a flooding event. Relief is only available following a presidential disaster declaration, usually available in the form of a low-interest loan that must be repaid. Residents should also be advised there is a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance policy goes into effect. So don’t wait until a hurricane is approaching to get insurance.
“The damage of just one inch of water in your home can cost more than $25,000 in repairs,” McFarlane said. “You could hope you’re never impacted by flooding. Or, you can protect yourself from devastating loss by signing up for flood insurance.” To get more flood facts and check out the Flood Risk Calculator, visit GetFloodFluent.org.
Get the facts:
• Floods are the most common natural hazards. • Anywhere it can rain, it can flood. The area’s rainfalls have become more intense and frequent over the past four decades. • It doesn’t have to be raining for flooding to occur. Flooding can come from storm surge, high tides and wind direction. • Hampton Roads is experiencing the highest rate of relative sea level rise on the East Coast. • You don’t have to be in a high-risk zone to experience flooding. Flood damage typically isn’t covered by homeowner’s or renter’s insurance.
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THE SMITHFIELD TIMES
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2020 | 3
SUPPLY LIST
What to do after incurring storm damage Severe storms like hurricanes do not discriminate, and when such storms finally dissipate, people from all walks of life are left to deal with the often devastating consequences. Property damage is one such consequence, and the following are some things people can do in the aftermath of storms that caused damage to their property. • Contact your insurance provider. Not all damage resulting from storms will necessarily be covered by insurance policies, but it’s still imperative that people contact their insurance companies as soon as possible after their homes or vehicles have been damaged. Agents can help policyholders learn if their policies cover the damage done to their property and to what extent their coverage will help them recover. Many people will likely be making similar calls, so policyholders should try to be
as patient as possible. • Document the damage. People whose property has been damaged should use their smartphones and cameras to document the damage as extensively as possible. Take photos from various angles before you begin cleaning up. Providers may require visual evidence of the damage before they begin processing your claim, so ask about those requirements when contacting your insurance agent. • Avoid downed power lines. In addition to protecting the investments you have made in your property and your possessions, it’s important to remember to protect yourself. Avoid downed power lines, reporting any to your local power company as soon as you see them. • Let the professionals do the work. It can be tempting for homeowners to try to do some electrical work around their
homes after their homes have been damaged by storms. Electricians are likely busy and might not be able to assess or repair damage for days, if not weeks. But it’s still best to wait and allow professionals to do the work. Experienced professionals recognize potentially harmful, if not deadly, issues that may be lurking beneath the damage, so it’s always best to leave the work to private electricians or local power company work crews. • Revisit insurance policies. After suffering damage to their homes or vehicles, people may benefit by revisiting their coverage and increasing that coverage in anticipation of future disasters. Storm damage can turn individuals’ lives upside down. But remaining calm and working in harmony with insurance agencies and power companies can help storm victims recover quickly. —Metro Creative
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DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE
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HURRICANE SAFETY TIPS
2 2
FIVE P’S OF EVACUATION
BEFORE THE STORM • HAVE AN OUT-OF-TOWN CONTACT FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TO CHECK IN. • PLAN FOR YOUR PETS. ISLE OF WIGHT AND SURRY EMERGENCY SHELTERS WILL NOT ACCEPT PETS OTHER THAN SERVICE ANIMALS. • DETERMINE WHERE TO MEET. DECIDE NOW WHERE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL MEET IN CASE YOU CAN’T RETURN HOME BECAUSE OF AN EMERGENCY. • REVIEW INSURANCE COVERAGE. HOMEOWNERS’ INSURANCE TYPICALLY DOES NOT COVER FLOOD DAMAGE. IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA THAT’S PRONE TO FLOODING, TALK TO YOUR INSURANCE AGENT ABOUT PURCHASING FLOOD INSURANCE.
PEOPLE PEOPLE AND IF SAFELY POSSIBLE, PETS AND OTHER ANIMALS OR LIVESTOCK.
PRESCRIPTIONS PRESCRIPTIONS, WITH DOSAGES; MEDICINES; MEDICAL EQUIPMENT; BATTERIES OR POWER CORDS; EYEGLASSES; AND HEARING AIDS.
DURING THE STORM
PAPERS
• STAY INDOORS, AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND GLASS. • GO TO A SMALL, INTERIOR, WINDOWLESS ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR, NOT LIKELY TO FLOOD. • USE FLASHLIGHTS, NOT CANDLES. • EVACUATE IF ADVISED OR ORDERED.
PERSONAL NEEDS PERSONAL NEEDS - SUCH AS CLOTHES, FOOD, WATER, FIRST AID KIT, CASH, PHONES & CHARGERS - AND ITEMS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHERS WITH ACCESS AND/OR FUNCTIONAL NEEDS, SUCH AS OLDER ADULTS, CHILDREN AND THOSE WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.
AFTER THE STORM • STAY OUT OF ANY BUILDING SURROUNDED BY FLOODWATERS. • USE EXTREME CAUTION ENTERING FLOODED BUILDINGS. • DO NOT TOUCH ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IF IT IS WET OR YOU ARE STANDING IN WATER. • HAVE A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL TURN GAS BACK ON. • USE A GENERATOR OR OTHER GASOLINE-POWERED MACHINES ONLY OUTDOORS.
ISLE OF WIGHT VOL. RESCUE SQUAD
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DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2020 | 5
How businesses can prepare for natural disasters Disaster preparedness strategies can help communities overcome floods, fires, hurricanes and storms. Many of these strategies focus on helping residents of communities that are prone to storms protect themselves and their homes from the wrath of Mother Nature. But it’s equally important that local business owners take steps to ensure their businesses survive natural disasters. Local businesses can play vital roles as communities try to recover from natural disasters. Such businesses can provide supplies like food and water to residents in need. In addition, businesses that are able to simply open their doors to customers can create a sense of normalcy in a community at a time
when that normalcy can be comforting. However, in order to provide such services, businesses must first make it through disasters unscathed, and that takes planning. • Create a formal written plan. The Insurance Information Institute advises business owners to create formal written plans that detail how the business will respond to and recover from a disaster. This plan may include temporary relocation. Business owners should know where they can go if they need to temporarily set up shop elsewhere in the wake of a disaster. • Make sure employees know the plan and their roles. Once the plan has been developed, business owners should share it
with their employees and go over each employee’s role. Assign responsibilities to staff members and train them so they are fully equipped to handle their role and confront disaster if the need arises. Periodically revisit the plan and go over it again with staff members, conducting drills at each review so everyone is in the best position to respond quickly and effectively. • Keep emergency supplies on hand. The Insurance Information Institute recommends business owners store flashlights, first-aid kits and battery-powered radios in their businesses. It may also be wise to store food, water and blankets if the business is in a remote or potentially inaccessible
location, such as the top of a high-rise. The III also notes that keeping generators on hand may help businesses return to operations more quickly than waiting for utility companies, which tend to be overwhelmed with service calls in the wake of disasters or heavy storms, to address power issues. • Back up key information and data off-site. Cloud computing has
made it easier than ever for businesses to protect important data from natural disasters, and business owners should make use of such services. Make sure to store important disaster-specific information that you might need, such as insurance policies and staff phone numbers, on cloud storage or somewhere else off-site so it is not destroyed. • Do your best to protect
the building. Heed warnings from the weather service and board up entry points if a storm figures to be especially violent. Doing so can protect the building where your business is housed as well as everything therein. Businesses that plan ahead for natural disasters can typically get back on their feet quickly after storms come and go. —Metro Creative
MOST DAMAGE during a hurricane IN OUR AREA is caused by FLOODING,
HURRICANE FLOOD? -NOT COVERED-
Your home insurance DOES NOT PAY for flood damage. You need a separate flood insurance policy to provide protection.
Let us review your home insurance program today. Call for an insurance quote: (757) 517-1104
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6 | WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2020
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE
Prepare for the financial impact of natural disasters
Emergency kits should include the following: • One gallon of water per person, per day for at least three days • A three-day supply of food requiring minimal water, no refrigeration, preparation or cooking, such as canned foods, granola bars, trail mix, etc. • Sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizer and face masks • First aid supplies and medications • Extra eyeglasses, contact lenses and lens solution • Food, medications and other needs for pets • Manual can opener • Complete change of clothing • Sturdy footwear • Sleeping bag
• Tools and emergency supplies • Important family documents and phone numbers • Cash in small bills • Credit card • Extra set of car keys in waterproof container • Toilet paper • Soap • Disinfectant • Five-gallon bucket with lid • Feminine hygiene supplies and diapers • Garbage bags • Games, toys and books • Blankets • Jumper cables • Cell phone charger • Flashlight and extra batteries
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The fury of Mother Nature’s wrath is displayed in vivid color during stormy times of year, including hurricane season. After the flood waters recede and the rain or smoke has passed, people affected by storms must face the financial ramifications. Whether storms touch down nearby or overseas, the globalized economy means the financial fallout from natural disasters can be felt near and wide. The National Centers for Environmental Information estimates that hurricanes cost an average of $21.8 billion per
Bryant’s Clearing & Tree Removal. Inc.
event in damages for the United States. Since 1980, when data started to be collected, NCEI indicates hurricanes, drought, flooding, wildfires, freezes and winter storms tend to be the most costly events. It’s easy to underestimate the scope of the financial burdens caused by natural disasters. Here are a few ways to protect one’s financial interests in advance of natural disasters. • Experts at Property Casualty Insurers Association of America advise consumers to review and update their insurance policies regularly. Many homeowners are
underinsured for natural disasters, particularly for flooding or earthquakes, which are not included in most policies. • Adjust insurance shortfalls based on what insurers provide and the type of weather that tends to affect the area in which you live. • Policies should reimburse for hotel rooms or meals out if a home is uninhabitable after a disaster. In a Consumer Reports survey of people who experienced property damage after a hurricane, 5 percent said they had to stay elsewhere, while 42 percent needed to relocate temporarily after damages from wildfires.
• Remove valuables and store them in a bank safety deposit box or another location that’s outside the path of the storm. Theft, vandalism and looting can occur after storms. • Have a backup employment plan and savings strategy if storms come through regularly. It is not uncommon for local businesses to shut down for some time to recover. This can mean temporary or permanent loss of employment. Storms cause structural and economic damage when they roll through. Be prepared to protect your financial interests. —Metro Creative
Protect Your Generator! During the last hurricane, over half of the noted generator problem attributed to a lack of maintenance!
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WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2020 | 7
Get the best help for building back up
STAFF REPORT
Homeowners have a long road ahead of them after disasters strike, after the damage has been done and their homes are left in disarray. Contractors will be needed for all sorts of repairs, and it’s important for homeowners to find reliable, trustworthy contractors when they need them the most. The Better Business Bureau has recommendations for homeowners in need of such assistance. “Natural disasters like tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, fires and earthquakes can bring out the best in people, as strangers reach out to help others in need. Unfortunately, crisis also brings out persons who choose to take advantage of the victims,” according to a document prepared by BBB and shared by Jamie Howell with the BBB of Greater Hampton Roads. Homeowners can search on bbb.org for free information on a contractor’s Business Profile, which includes their history of complaints, verified customer reviews and their status as an Accredited Business. It’s also important to search for the company’s name online with words like “complaint,” “review” or “scam” to find any other relevant information. “There are many other sources online for information,” Howell wrote in an email. “The BBB’s mission is to provide factchecking information, rather than opinions, so we encourage any and all research, as long as it is fact-based.”
Contractors should be able to provide a list of recent, local references about services performed, the quality of their work and the overall experience these customers had with the contractor. The best contractors for disaster relief work will most likely be local, as they are more likely to know your region and the risk of flood, hurricanes and other natural disasters that may affect their work and other existing structures, according to Howell. It’s also important that the contractor has prior experience working on homes that have suffered similar kinds of storm damage. “It’s always a good idea to know that the contractor has experience with the work they are claiming to provide, especially when it comes to more pricey work,” Howell wrote. “You want to be able to trust they can provide what you need worked on, and past work is a good indicator of possible outcome of future work.” According to BBB, homeowners should shop around and get at least three price quotes from different businesses. Make sure that all bids consider the same set of criteria, and remember that the lowest bid may not necessarily be the best bid. If one contractor has a significantly lower bid than the others, they might either be cutting corners or don’t fully understand the work requirements. Furthermore, ensure that the contractor in question has general lia-
bility insurance. “Insurance is always important for any work with possible liability attached,” Howell wrote. “If you find a contractor is not insured, proceed with caution if you choose to continue to use them.” Before any work begins, make sure that a contract is written and signed. “Always get estimates in writing and never let any work begin without a written and signed contract,” according to BBB. “Do not be pressured into signing an agreement before you are ready and make sure you read and understand everything before signing. “The contract should include contact information, start and complete dates, a detailed description of the exact work to be done, any material costs, payment arrangements and warranty information.” Others things to consider include: building permits, which contractors usually obtain but homeowners typically have to pay for; a lien waver, which is a statement from the contractor that states all suppliers and subcontractors have been paid for their work; and warranty coverage for future service issues. When it comes to the payment schedule, never pay in full up front. Stagger the payments so that the final payment is not due until the work is complete and you’ve been able to fully inspect the work. Also, don’t pay in cash. According to BBB, pay in a check that’s written to a company — not an individual — or use a credit
card. “Paying with a credit card will provide some recourse should the job not be completed as stated in the contract,” according to BBB. Finding a contractor is a process that takes time and careful consideration, and it’s crucial that homeowners find contractors that are willing to communicate and work with them openly. “Communication is key,” Howell wrote. “Slow or unanswered complaints is something the BBB watches for as well. A contractor in question should also practice empathy and be able to understand where the homeowner is coming from with their needs and wants. The BBB rating
system explains what we look for as an organization and hope to provide an example to homeowners as well.” Visit ready.gov to learn more about the potential
emergencies that could occur where you live and the best ways to respond to them. When recovery work begins, visit bbb.org and other sources to find safe, reliable contractors.
® ® David Moose, REALTOR David Moose, REALTOR David Moose, REALTOR ®
Cell: 757-870-8048 Cell: 757-870-8048 Cell: 757-870-8048 • Office: 757-935-5441 Cell: 757-870-8048 Office: 757-935-5441 Fax: Fax:757-935-5433 757-935-5433 Office: 757-935-5441 Office: 757-935-5441 rebroker33@gmail.com rebroker33@gmail.com Fax: 757-935-5433 Fax: 757-935-5433 2815 Godwin Blvd. Suite M rebroker33@gmail.com Suffolk, VA 23434
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8 | WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2020
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDE
THE SMITHFIELD TIMES
DON’T WAIT FOR A STORM TO PREPARE. Create an emergency kit with flashlights, batteries, cleaning supplies and face coverings. Prepare a first-aid kit with bandages, anti-bacterial wipes, over-the-counter medications, and prescription medications. Remember to carry your healthcare information with you and to prepare your medical devices, especially if you are disabled or elderly. Prepare a supply of water and non-perishable food. Charge your phone and other electronic devices fully before the storm arrives. Make sure your contact information is updated at DominionEnergy.com so that we have a way to get in touch with you.
Follow us on and and bookmark the interactive power outage map at DominionEnergy.com to report and track your outage. Download the Dominion Energy App to track restoration efforts and report outages quickly. For more tips, visit DominionEnergy.com/HurricanePrep.