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Hurricane Preparedness

BEFORE A HURRICANE IN TAMPA, FL

ServiceMaster DSI in Tampa, Fl., is ready to help restore your home and restore your peace of mind after the stresses of a hurricane. As the experts in disaster restoration, ServiceMaster DSI recommends homeowners take these preparedness steps before and during hurricane season.

Getting Prepared

Give yourself plenty of time to stock up on emergency supplies. Have a week’s supply of water (one gallon per person per day), plenty of non-perishable food items and refill necessary prescriptions for all family members, including pets.

  • If you need to evacuate, prepare a “go kit”. Include items such as hand sanitizer, or bar or liquid soap if not available.
  • Create your communication plan. Landline and cellular phone systems are often overwhelmed following a disaster, so you may need to use text messages and social media. Designate an out-of-town contact who can help your household reconnect, and be sure to practice your plan with your family.
  • If you need to go to a disaster shelter, follow CDC recommendations for staying safe and healthy in a public disaster shelter.
  • Fill your vehicle’s gas tank and make sure you have a car charger for your cell phone.
  • Review and understand your insurance coverage. Take photos of your insurance policy statements and save them to the Cloud.

Protect Your Property

  • Bring in loose items outside your home that can be picked up by strong winds.
  • Close windows, doors and hurricane shutters. If you don’t have hurricane shutters, board up windows and doors with 1/2″ marine plywood.
  • Turn off propane tanks and unplug small appliances. If you lose power or leave your property, shut off the main switches in the circuit breaker box.
  • Take photos and videos of the exterior and interior of your home. Take vital documents (birth certificates, social security cards, bank records, etc.) with you.
  • Store files, furniture and equipment away from windows and doors, as well as unplug small appliances and equipment. Turn off all electricity at the main circuit breaker, including air conditioning units.
  • Review and understand your property’s insurance coverage, including deductibles. Identify vital records and make back-up copies and store them in a safe, if possible.
  • Identify emergency power requirements and determine if a generator is available.

Get Prepared

Evaluate your contingency plan and make sure it is up-to-date given the circumstances surrounding the global pandemic. ServiceMaster DSI has a variety of tools and resources available. 
 

AFTER A HURRICANE IN THE TAMPA AREA

ServiceMaster DSI is ready to help restore your home and restore your peace of mind after hurricane damage. To begin recovering from a hurricane disaster, FEMA and Ready.gov recommend the following:

  • If you have become separated from your family, contact the American Red Cross at 1·800-RED·CROSS or visit the American Red Cross Safe and Well site at www.safeandwell.org. (The American Red Cross also maintains a database to help you find family. Contact the local American Red Cross chapter where you are staying for information. Do not contact the chapter in the disaster area.)
  • Listen to local officials for information and special instructions.
  • Be careful during clean-up. Wear protective clothing and work with someone else.
  • Save phone calls for emergencies. Phone systems are often down or busy after a disaster. Use text messages or social media to communicate with family and friends.
  • Document any property damage with photographs. Contact your insurance company for assistance.
  • Throw out any food including canned items that were not maintained at a proper temperature or have been exposed to floodwaters. Do not eat food from a flooded garden. When in doubt, throw it out.
  • Avoid drinking tap water until you know it is safe. If uncertain, boil or purify it first.
  • Watch your pets closely and keep them under your direct control. Watch out for wild animals, especially poisonous snakes. Use a stick to poke through debris.
  • Inspect your home for damage. Take pictures of the damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance purposes. If you have any doubts about safety, have your residence inspected by a qualified building inspector or a structural engineer before entering.


If you need help restoring your home after hurricane damage, give ServiceMaster DSI a call in Hillsborough, County, Pasco and Pinellas County. We work with all insurance companies, and we’ll gladly help you file paperwork, gather estimates and organize other items for your claim if needed.