In the United States alone, extreme weather conditions cost over $145 billion in 2021, killing nearly 700 people. The impact of weather on daily activities and general safety is quite severe, whether it be due to hurricanes, harsh winters, or floods. Every year, stories about how weather-related accidents have wreaked havoc, damaged properties, and taken lives are reported from various states.

As reported widely, a massive bomb cyclone hit Amherst as the holiday season began this year. As the holiday season got underway, many homes and businesses were left without electricity. The international airport was closed; reports reveal that the bomb cyclone killed about 18 people.

In the midst of all of this, it’s critical to be aware of the safety and security precautions to take, not to mention the need to redouble efforts to safeguard people, property, and commodities as the weather deteriorates sharply.

Tips To Remain Safe and Secure

Try To Stay Off-Road

According to a report, about 24% of car crashes annually involve icy or snowy road and pavement conditions, and another 15% involve snowfall. Thus, the best advice is to stay off the road in order to prevent any accidents or mishaps. Although roads are rebuilt annually in the wake of storms, there is little one can do to shield themselves during harsh weather conditions. It is, therefore, advisable to avoid the road and only be out of homes if there is an emergency.

Safe Use of Generators

The US generator market is expected to grow at a CAGR of nearly 5% until 2028. This is indicative of the prevalence of generators; however, comfort also carries some risk. Carbon monoxide, which is produced by machinery like generators, can be detrimental to your health and lead to serious illness. It’s also possible for poorly located or maintained generators to cause sparks or induce fires. This equipment needs to be placed securely in a location away from your main building.

Prepare Your Vehicles

It is crucial to inspect and maintain your vehicles prior to the arrival of severe winter weather. To prevent any accidents on the road when the weather gets bad, everything — radiator, tires, and rear lights — should be in top shape. Installing a winter emergency kit is a great way to completely protect and get yourself and your car ready for the winter.

Stock the Essentials

Years of experience have taught us the importance of having the necessities in hand in order to survive inclement weather when contact with the outside world is cut off. Make sure your pantry is stocked with food products that don’t need to be cooked. Besides, for weather like this, water storage in a clean environment is critical. 

Stay Connected

It’s possible to be cut off from the outside world and important updates under such weather conditions. Therefore, having a spare battery for your phone, signing up for free emergency alerts, and carrying a battery-powered radio would be reasonable precautions to take to ensure that the connection is not completely lost.

The aforementioned safety measures are critical to deal with severe weather, but being completely secure calls for an additional layer of defense. By choosing various insurance options, you can ensure that your assets are protected regardless of how things turn out. The general insurance policies that should be chosen in severe weather conditions are listed below.

Types of Insurance Needed for Overall Protection

General Liability Insurance

This kind of insurance policy is crucial, particularly during severe weather when the likelihood of an accident is high. Let’s imagine that you own a commercial retail establishment and that a customer slips and falls on your icy sidewalk – injuring them and entitling them to compensation from the business owner. General liability insurance comes into play in these situations and aids you in preventing any lawsuits of a similar nature. Comprehensive collision insurance can also be added to your list of insurance to protect you and your vehicles from traffic accidents.

Home Insurance

Home insurance is necessary for better protection amid severe weather. About 15 million American homes were affected by the weather in 2021, according to reports – indicating that 1 in 10 homes suffer damage from extreme weather. A homeowner’s insurance policy offers protection against disasters like fire, flood, earthquakes, and even when someone is hurt on the premises.

Weather Insurance

Flood damage is not covered by general policies for your personal property and goods. To better protect your assets from such disasters, companies offer weather insurance. Having weather insurance can be a great way to provide overall protection from damage caused by circumstances like frozen pipes, chaos from snow, strong winds, etc.

Travel Insurance

One of the best insurance types to have during severe weather is travel insurance. Due to bad weather, flights are frequently canceled or rescheduled, and occasionally, as previously mentioned, the airport’s operations are completely suspended. To get the most out of their travel plans, US citizens should obtain travel insurance. Travel and visitor medical insurance are possible additions to this strategy.

In addition to these, automobile insurance, cottage insurance, and recreational vehicle insurance are a few significant types of insurance to consider.

The Bottom Line

In order to choose the appropriate insurance policy, it is crucial to evaluate your assets, your company, and the associated risk factors. At Gonzalez Insurance, we can help you with a comprehensive risk evaluation and mapping of your insurance requirements. Contact us to learn more.