Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King has offered a series of insurance and safety tips to prepare for tornado season, which runs from March through May in Georgia.
King said it is vital to meet with your home or property insurance agent right away to review your policies in preparation for severe weather.
When speaking with an insurance agent, King recommended discussing actual cash value coverage and replacement cost coverage. Actual cash coverage pays the current depreciated value of a damaged or lost item, while replacement cost coverage pays for brand new items. He said it is important to know which coverage you would prefer in case of damage.
King said it is also important to make a list of any valuables, furniture, electronics, jewelry, etc. This list should then be uploaded to cloud storage. Pictures or videos of the items can also be useful, according to King.
When it comes to specific safety tips, King said the main priority should be to stay informed in the case of a significant weather event. Specifically, listen to an NOAA weather radio to check local forecasts and news reports. He also said you should keep a battery-powered or hand-cranked radio along with extra batteries.
If a tornado warning is issued for your area, King said you should shelter in a basement or storm cellar. If no underground shelter is available, choose an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor possible.
Additional tornado safety tips can be found here.
