What Military Families Can Learn from Hurricane Michael

We are devastated to hear about the scale of destruction caused by Hurricane Michael. And, most importantly, our thoughts and prayers continue to be with those who lost everything and those who lost their lives as a result of this horrific storm.

The devastation from Hurricane Michael will be felt for years to come. Most of Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida sustained significant damage from the category 4 hurricane. With over 3,000 military families living on base, this is not just a serious blow to the base itself, but also to Tyndall’s military families.

Countless types of disasters could quickly turn a military family’s life upside down. It has been said that we shouldn’t just prepare for the possibility of a disaster, but rather that we should always be prepared for the inevitability of one. What lessons can be learned from this devastating hurricane that can help your family to be prepared for the unthinkable?

• Prepare for an evacuation: Families living on Tyndall were given warning to evacuate before the storm. For those who were a part of the assisted evacuation, they were limited to a single bag with 72 hours’ worth of clothing and personal belongings. We all know of items that we’d probably grab in this type of situation, but in stressful circumstances, judgment can be clouded. Prepare for the unexpected by keeping a list of items to grab in an emergency situation.

A few of the items you may want to include:

• Important documents and ID’s

• Essential portable electronics and chargers

• A small selection of daily toiletries

• Prescription medications

• Clothing for 3 days

• Make sure you have renters insurance: Renters insurance is a tool that will help you to recoup your belongings in a disaster situation. Many renters don’t believe that insurance is necessary because they don’t own their home. But being a renter is even more reason to ensure you have a protective safety net. Renters insurance will recover the cost of your belongings following a disaster. This is a surprisingly inexpensive monthly fee that could mean the difference between losing everything or an easier recovery. If you are looking for recommendations, give us a call. We’d love to put you in touch with one of the incredible local insurance providers we know and trust.

• Take inventory of all your belongings: For countless reasons, it’s important to have a good inventory of your belongings. Knowing what you had is the only way your insurance provider can help you to replace the items. Here are a few ways to compile a comprehensive inventory of your valuables.

  • Photos: With good lighting, take simple, clear photos of your valuable items (jewelry, electronics, furniture, etc.)

  • Make, Model, Serial Number: Write down the important information found on your items, such as the make, model, and serial numbers.

  • Receipts: If it’s possible, keep your receipts following a big purchase.

  • Back up to a cloud: Back up each of these things (photos, serial numbers, receipts) to a cloud system for safekeeping in case your devices are ever lost or stolen.

• Use the cloud: It bears repeating that a backup of your important documents, household inventory, and other pertinent information should be stored to the cloud. There are countless sites that could be used for this purpose. Something as simple as sending an e-mail attachment to yourself and another family member is a simple way to keep up with things that you might need following a disaster.

These are a few easy ways you can prepare should the unthinkable happen to your family. Safety nets from both preparation and adequate insurance coverage are great ways to feel confident that your family is ready should you ever face a disaster.

For those in the OKC area who are in need of temporary housing, here is a list of currently available homes for rent that will meet the criteria for both enlisted and officers.

Photo by Agung Pandit Wiguna on Pexels