OUR VIEW: Hurricane tax break is just a start on storm prep

News-Journal (Daytona Beach, FL)

May 29--A drive the length of Florida's coastline would reveal something many of the state's residents still haven't taken fully into account: A number of communities still bear deep scars from storm damage over the last decade.

As of Saturday, another storm season kicks off, with a seven-day sales tax break on many storm-essential supplies starting Friday. Many Florida residents will be browsing that list (which we'll put online again today) with plans to restock their "hurricane boxes" with batteries and freezer packs, cellphone power banks and portable fans, along with a few cases of bottled water and bags of storm-comfort food.

[MARK LANE: Hey battery-hoarder, Happy Disaster-Prep Holiday!]

And they'll look at their tidy little stashes and declare their storm prep done -- when in reality, they're not even close.

As Florida faces an increasingly tempestuous weather outlook, the focus of residents and businesses must shift. They're no longer prepping just for a few hours, days or even as much as a week without electricity. They should be getting ready for gaping holes in roofs and bashed-in kitchen walls. Floodwaters seeping in under the door. Commands to evacuate -- right now.

[READ MORE: Climate change making east coast vulnerable to most terrifying hurricanes, study says]

Floridians should be asking themselves what their families will need if their homes are too damaged to inhabit for months-long stretches. They should be thinking about what they will do if their homes are destroyed. Business owners should be contemplating how they would handle a catastrophe that shuts them down, and how to let employees know what to expect.

That prep should start with a good review of insurance coverage. Most Floridians understand that policies are divided into multiple parts -- flood insurance, coverage against windstorm damage and a basic property-insurance. The start of storm season is always a good time to evaluate coverage levels and make adjustments where they're needed -- including arrangements to pay deductibles and non-covered expenses. Renters should also look at their coverage to make sure it's in line with the value of the goods they've amassed.

Finding safe places to store copies of critical documents is always a good idea; for many Floridians, keeping electronic copies in secure "cloud" locations ensures they can be accessed from anywhere that has internet service. Bookmarking useful web sites, Twitter feeds, Facebook pages and other official channels of local and state emergency management officials takes just a few minutes.

Residents should also thinking, now, about how they can physically secure their property. Investing in plywood, storm shutters or roof repairs can pay off in lower premiums, and a little more reassurance when storm winds are howling. Generator purchases are also easier to work into the budget with the sales-tax break. But these items will be in short supply if a storm starts bearing down on Florida.

[U.S. SEN. RICK SCOTT: Time is now for Florida to prepare for the storm season]

There are other tasks that shouldn't wait. Evaluating trees to ensure they are healthy and trimmed back is a good thing to do in early June. Every household needs an evacuation plan, including a list of things to take to an emergency shelter and how to stay in touch should communication networks fail. Are there out-of-state family members or friends who will agree to serve as safety check points -- or refuges in a storm?

And of course, all planning should include the needs of the family's pets.

These aren't fun things to think about, which is why so many Floridians don't really think about it at all, except to assume that some hazy combination of FEMA, the Red Cross and eager volunteers from other communities will be there with everything they need in the event of a storm. That was never really the case, and it's certainly not a realistic assumption now.

Facing reality -- and planning accordingly -- could be the difference between a quick recovery and months of misery.

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