When it comes to living in Charleston, there are a multitude of positives. However, there is one con (only one) – the vulnerability of being in a hurricane’s path. However, this is the case with any area located on the coast and our city has been lucky to dodge storms in recent years. The season typically begins June 1 and ends November 30 and though we find ourselves in the middle of the season, it’s best to be prepared. Follow our guide to how to prepare for hurricane season in Charleston.
Stock emergency supplies. Stock your emergency kit with at least three days worth of supplies. The most important items to include are a gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, a several day supply of non-perishable food, a manual can opener, pet food, a first aid kit, extra gasoline, a flashlight, extra batteries, chargers ,a battery-powered or hand crank radio, sanitation items such as toilet paper and moist towelettes and a whistle. Storing your supplies in a plastic container with wheels can help in the event that you need to evacuate.
Prepare your home. Preparing your home ahead of a storm can limit extensive damage. Keep your gutters clear to prevent rain water from damaging your home’s foundation, check your roof for any damaged or missing shingles and add an emergency generator. It’s also important to have a place to secure outdoor furniture, as well as trim any trees around your home to limit damage caused by high winds. It is important to have hurricane shutters or extra plywood on hand to cover windows and sandbags in the event of flooding.
Check into flood insurance. Since homeowner policies do not cover damage from flooding that comes from a hurricane, make sure to check with your home insurance agent about the National Flood Insurance Program. There is typically a 30-day waiting period before a new policy can become effective for an existing home, so the earlier, the better. With South Carolina’s FEMA flood risk currently standing at 2.0, homeowners will no longer pay more than their share in flood insurance premiums based on the value of their homes.
Prepare for evacuation. Have an evacuation plan in place in the event that Charleston is in the direct path of a hurricane. The Charleston hurricane response plan will provide the location of shelters. Planning travel routes as well as backup routes is recommended in case of road closures. If you’re planning on leaving town, it is smart to have a top of mind destination and possibly hotel reservations in place. Don’t forget a South Carolina highway map in case there are internet outages.
Preventative measures. The City of Charleston takes hurricane safety seriously and has many preventative measures in place to keep residents safe. The High Battery seawall is currently undergoing a three phase project to raise the height of the seawall by 1.8 feet. In the event that the river were to overtop the new seawall or downtown Charleston is hit with a large amount of rain at high tide, the increased height of the newly installed storm drains will help the Battery drain quickly when the tide subsides.
If you have any questions about preparing your home for a hurricane, evacuation plans or flood insurance, a William Means agent would be happy to help you prepare.
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