By Debra Mann, REALTOR, Suncoasteam Realty
Contact Debra: 941-626-0744, debra@suncoasteam.com
Hurricane season is here again (the season runs from June 1- November 30). With the peak of the season being mid August to late October, it is a good idea to think about getting prepared early, even though our seasons have been relatively quiet in Florida since 2004 & 2005 (and prior to Hurricane Charley, our area of Florida has not seen impact since Donna in 1960!)
The thought of a hurricane or any other natural disaster tends to instantly strike fear into a person’s heart, but unlike tornadoes, earthquakes, & sometimes floods or wild fires, one will get plenty of warning from the National Hurricane Center, that the storm is out there.
It is a good idea to have a file with copies of all of your important information (insurance information, health records, pet records, etc). Stock up on batteries for the house, extra water, paper products and canned food items… anything that needs to be purchased, try to buy before a storm is coming, so you don’t have to fight the crowds at the store. Know your evacuation routes and think about where you will go. There are lots of websites with good information on being prepared.
Here are a few:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/ready.php
https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes
http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/hurricane
Don’t panic if you see that where you live is in the “cone”. The predictions change daily. Just watch the weather forecasts, tune into the National Hurricane Center online & stay informed. Chances are, even if you are in the “cone” for awhile, you will not suffer a direct hit, and even if you do, it makes all the difference in the world if you are prepared for the storm. I know… I stood in the eye of Hurricane Charley, and am here to tell about it! I still live in Southwest Florida & love it here!!!
If you are interested in finding out about living in this wonderful paradise we call home, please click on Real Estate for sale in Punta Gorda. …or if you have any questions or want more information about real estate in Punta Gorda, Florida contact Your Suncoasteam @ 941-626-0744 or debra@suncoasteam.com.