If you are under a hurricane watch or warning, here are some basic steps to take to prepare for the storm:

• Learn about your community's emergency plans, warning signals, evacuation routes, and locations of emergency shelters.
• Identify potential building hazards and know how to secure or protect them before the hurricane strikes. Be prepared to turn off electrical power when there is standing water, fallen power lines, or before you evacuate. Turn off gas and water supplies before you evacuate. Secure structurally unstable building materials.
• Locate and secure your important papers and data, such as insurance policies, deeds, etc.

Assess the exterior of the building and surrounding areas to ensure that landscaping, trees and/or signage do not become a wind hazard.

• Trim trees and shrubbery - Cut weak branches on plants and trees.
• Secure signs, vent stacks, rooftop mechanical equipment or other vertical projections.
• Remove bricks, pallets or other debris that may become projectiles during high wind storms.
• Secure outbuildings, fences, garbage cans, outdoor furniture and awnings, all of which can potentially become windborne debris and break windows and sometimes tear openings into your building.

Establish a plan for window and door protection.

• Check window seals and repair any cracks or signs of peeling.
• Install head and foot bolts on all inactive exterior double doors or replace doors with those that can be secured to a lockable center post.  Be sure not to compromise any life safety means of egress.

Utica National has a wide array of material available to help you control these and other types of losses.

Visit www.uticanational.com