Hurricane Matthew is expected to make landfall in Florida soon. While you prepare to evacuate or shelter in place, here are some helpful safety tips from The Weather Channel:

If you are advised or ordered to evacuate

·         Follow all directions and orders from local officials, and leave immediately when instructed to do so.

·         Bring emergency supplies, including a first aid kit, medicines, food, water, formula and diapers, toiletries, cell phones, radios, and batteries.

·         Bring extra cash and copies of important papers such as insurance policies.

·         Bring blankets, sleeping bags, books, and games.

·         Unplug appliances, turn off utilities such as electricity and the main water valve.

·         Lock the windows and doors of your home.

If you are not told to evacuate

·         Stay at home! Leave the roads available for those who must evacuate.

·         Clean your bathtub with bleach and fill it with water for washing and flushing (not drinking).

·         Set your refrigerator to maximum cold and keep it closed.

·         Turn off your utilities if told to do so by local officials.

During the storm

·         Go to an interior room and stay away from windows and doors, even though they're covered.

·         During very strong winds, lie under something sturdy.

·         Do not go outside, including during passage of the eye of the hurricane.

CRS is tracking and preparing for Hurricane Matthew. Our Catastrophe team is ready to assist both insurance adjusters and policyholders with immediate emergency hotel and housing assistance.

• We are fully staffed 24/7/365 for immediate assistance.
• Timely deployment of CRS employees on-site to support adjusters and policyholders.
• Priority booking with major hotel chains for needs of adjusters and policyholders.
• Competitive pricing on homes, condos, townhomes, apartments, mobile homes and travel trailers.
• Capability to provide temporary office trailers for carriers.
• One point of contact for adjusters and policyholders to minimize confusion.
• Internal weather tracking so we know where the storm is heading.

Some insurance companies are also deploying catastrophe response teams to assist with claim reports in their mobile units and call centers. Among those currently preparing include Allstate, CNA Insurance and GEICO.

Current Red Cross Shelter information: https://www.google.org/crisismap/florida_emergency_preparedness

Source(s):

https://weather.com/safety/hurricane/news/hurricanes-safety-during-20120330

http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/southeast/2016/10/06/273989.htm

https://www.crsth.com/services/catastrophe/