Preparing for a Natural Disaster with Manhattan Insurance

How safe is your house from a natural disaster? While New York City isn’t considered a danger zone for hurricanes or earthquakes, it does not mean the city is immune to such natural disasters – just look at hurricane Irene, which mercifully spared Manhattan extensive damage but did rattle the borough and caused some flooding. To ensure you have the best possible protection from natural disasters, you need to disaster-proof your home, have an evacuation plan, and have a Manhattan insurance policy that financially covers you for disaster-related damage.

Manhattan is not exactly built for an easy escape if a disaster hit. With so many high-rise buildings, crowded streets and heavy traffic, a hurricane or earthquake could have a severe impact on many lives. A major power outage could also cause widespread chaos, with the subway, traffic control system, businesses and homes potentially thrown into disarray.

With this in mind, everyone should definitely have a well thought out natural disaster preparedness plan. Always have a stockpile of emergency supplies such as non-perishable foodstuffs, a flashlight and batteries, first aid kit, toiletries, water, and medication. Prepare for a breakdown in the telecommunications network. If the Internet is still up and running, you could use VoIP to get in contact with loved ones.

Make sure your Manhattan insurance policy will financially protect you if your house is damaged and possessions destroyed as a result of a natural disaster. Remember, you could lower your home insurance costs if you take steps to disaster-proof your home.

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