Hurricane Season: Don’t Panic but Have your Bases Covered!
With hurricanes striking the sunshine state in each of the last four years, hurricanes are a fact of life for Floridians in the fall months and 2019 is no exception. The risks and hazards of hurricanes for Floridians are both obvious but also less apparent.
The obvious considerations include damage to one’s home and property or even injury or death. But other risks associated with hurricanes aren’t as well known, from the perils of potential post-storm flooding and mold damage to scammers capitalizing on your tragedy.
“People understand the basic concepts of what can happen from a hurricane, but being adequately prepared and knowing the steps can be a challenge,” said Michelle Cyr, AARP Tampa Bay associate state director for advocacy and outreach. “We make it our job to reach out to our community partners, volunteers and members in the days leading up to storms and year-round to make sure our 50+ family is hurricane-ready.”
Being prepared and knowledgeable is key in keeping yourself, your loved ones and your home safe. AARP Tampa Bay has many resources geared to the 50+ including coping with the emotional reactions you may face after disaster strikes.
Once a hurricane has passed, the danger isn’t over. Know your rights when hiring a contractor and protect yourself from becoming a victim from not one, but two tragedies. For more information on all these topics, visit www.aarp.org/fldisasterhelp.
