Inside Insurance: Where shall we go? What shall we do?

By David Colmans

Please pay attention and take notes, but you might not like the pop quiz.

Even though we’re in February, and thinking ahead to spring and summer could be fun, there are several ways to run into serious problems.

The first week in February was Georgia’s big reminder to prepare for the upcoming disaster season. Here’s why:

• Spring severe weather season is about to begin, and that typically means nasty thunderstorms, high winds, hail and the possibility of tornadoes.

• Just as we ease out of one type of bad weather, hurricane season begins in June. This year, weather forecasters have issued their concerns that the Atlantic states may be more vulnerable than the Gulf Coast to these dangerous storms.

Every year we go through disaster drills, but this year should give serious thought about what we should do if — or when — a calamity occurs.

Don’t be like Scarlett O’Hara in “Gone With the Wind: “Where will I go; what shall I do?”

And don’t worry about what Rhett said, but be ready with answers for those questions.

We’ve already experienced some of the most severe flooding across the Southeast in a long time, and tornadoes, hail and high winds affect just about every part of the state at one time or another.

The Georgia Insurance Information Service Web site home page has a list of preparation recommendations at www.giis.org, but here are some of the issues that create trouble for so many of us year in and year out:

• Have a family evacuation plan and conduct a drill regularly if you must leave your home quickly.

• Be familiar with the state’s evacuation routes, especially for the Atlantic and Gulf Coast areas.

• Consider how many times evacuations bring traffic to a crawl where freeways are moving at a snail’s pace, so plan other routes from your home or office that don’t necessarily rely on interstates.

• A weather alert radio is a “must-have” in every home, apartment or mobile home, and it should be on at all times in stand-by mode in case of an alert.

• Here’s an item you may not have considered. More vehicles than homes often are casualties in severe weather for more than one reason. Flooding, hail, high winds and falling trees result in severe driving conditions that can take their toll on vehicles.

• Especially in the spring and summer, try not to let your vehicle’s gas tank get below a quarter full, and more if you can should an evacuation occur.

• Severe weather driving requires full attention on the road.

• Prepare in advance a “go kit” for your vehicle that includes first-aid supplies, prescription medicines for family members, emergency food supplies and other essentials.

There’s much more, such as having the right kinds of insurance coverage (homeowners, flood, and auto) for these types of events, and knowing how to stay safe at home, but these are very important to consider. GPS is important for your vehicle, but current maps are helpful especially when looking for alternate routes.

Importantly, cell phones and texting are good for assembling the family but telecommunications may not always be available. A family plan for where to go and what to do is also most important.

David Colmans is the executive director of the Georgia Insurance Information Service. Contact him at (770) 565-3806 or dcolmans@giis.org.