Mercury offers tips to help policyholders
protect their families and property before severe weather
arrives
LOS
ANGELES, Aug. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In
anticipation of Hurricane Hilary, tropical storm watches have
gone into effect for parts of Southern
California, including the area stretching from the
California-Mexico border to the Orange County-Los
Angeles County line, and for Catalina Island. Mercury Insurance (NYSE: MCY)
is urging Southern California
residents in these areas to take precautions and prepare
themselves, their families and property in advance of Hilary's
arrival.
"Hurricane Hilary is expected to bring severe wind and rain from
Baja California peninsula into
Southern California, Nevada and Arizona over the next 72 hours," says
Bonnie Lee, Vice President of
Property Claims at Mercury Insurance. "Now is the time to take
action, before the storm hits. Create a plan with your family so
everyone knows where to go, what to pack and how to get your home
ready for the upcoming storm. This way, you won't be caught
off-guard if a hurricane is heading your way and you're instructed
to evacuate."
A tropical system such as Hilary is an extremely rare occurrence
for Southern California. The last
time the region encountered such a storm was in 1939, according to
the National Weather Service, before storms were even given
names.
Lee advises homeowners to take the following steps to prepare
their homes for a hurricane:
- Pack a go-bag. There are several essential items to
have at the ready in case of an emergency, especially if you need
to leave your home quickly. A primary go-bag – or emergency kit –
should be stored in an easily accessible place within your house or
garage. Smaller kits can be kept in your car or at work. Take stock
of your go-bag yearly to make sure your items are up-to-date,
including:
-
- A three-day supply of water (one gallon per person),
non-perishable food items and pet food, if applicable;
- A battery-powered or hand-crank radio (and extra
batteries);
- A phone charger;
- A flashlight;
- A first aid kit;
- A whistle to signal for help;
- A can opener;
- Gloves, face masks, hand sanitizer and antibacterial
wipes;
- Blankets;
- Pliers or a wrench to turn off utilities;
- At least $200 in cash in small
bills, as power may be out, making ATMs, debit and credit
cards unusable; and
- Prescriptions for you, your family and your pets.
- Create an emergency plan. Know where family members
will meet if instructed to evacuate, as well as several options to
get out of the city in case routes are blocked. Establish a meeting
point ahead of time. Staying with friends or family who live
outside of the local area is a good option, but you should also
research hotels and shelters, as resources may be limited this year
due to the pandemic.
- Be aware of flood zones in your area. Hurricanes
can cause high winds, flying debris and flash flooding. Get out of
town and go to higher ground. If your home is located in a flood
zone and you can't leave before the storm, remain indoors and get
to the highest level possible.
- Reinforce your home. Close shutters or use plywood
to board up windows and doors. Secure outdoor furniture, potted
plants and other items that could become projectiles during the
storm.
- Store important documents in a safe place. This
includes copies of insurance policies, birth certificates, medical
records and prescriptions, social security cards, important
financial documents, passports and other identification, which
should be stored in a waterproof container. Upload scanned copies
of these documents to a cloud-based digital storage site so they're
easily accessible from your smartphone or computer if needed.
"Homeowners insurance doesn't usually cover
weather-related flooding, but flood insurance is available through
the National Flood Insurance Program. If you live in a high-risk
area, consider purchasing a policy," adds Lee. "Vehicle damage may
be covered by your auto insurance policy if you carry comprehensive
coverage, but it's best to make sure. Your local Mercury Insurance
agent is able to help verify what is and is not covered in the
event you're affected by a hurricane."
Lee also advises policyholders to follow a few simple procedures
to help speed up the claims process if your home or vehicle is
affected by a hurricane.
When filing a claim
- Contact Mercury immediately to report your loss.
- Be prepared to provide your policy number.
- Do not remove debris or damaged property that may be related to
your claim.
Steps after filing a claim
- Prepare a detailed inventory of destroyed or damaged
property.
- Offer photos or videos of your home and possessions to your
claims representative.
- Keep copies of communications between you and your claims
representative.
- Keep records and receipts for additional living expenses that
were incurred if you were forced to leave your home, and provide
copies to your claims representative.
Visit Mercury's Catastrophe Center to learn more about how to
protect yourself, your family and your property before a natural
disaster happens.
About Mercury Insurance
Mercury Insurance (NYSE: MCY)
is a multiple-line insurance carrier predominantly offering
personal auto, homeowners and renters insurance through a network
of independent agents in Arizona,
California, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New
Jersey, New York,
Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia, as well as auto insurance in
Florida. Mercury writes other
lines of insurance in various states, including commercial,
business owners and business auto, landlord, home-sharing,
ride-hailing and mechanical protection insurance.
Since 1962, Mercury has provided customers with tremendous value
for their insurance dollar by pairing ultracompetitive rates with
excellent customer service. Mercury has earned "A" ratings from
A.M. Best and Fitch, as well as "Best Auto Insurance Company"
designations from Forbes and Insure.com. For more information visit
https://www.mercuryinsurance.com/ or follow the company on Twitter
or Facebook.
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SOURCE Mercury Insurance