Although the season peaks in August, there are several precautions worth putting in place well before a storm threatens:
It’s important to understand how well you’re covered, should a hurricane damage your home. Gaps could leave you on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars.
For example, your regular policy deductible may not apply. Many policies have separate windstorm or hurricane deductibles, set as a percentage of your home’s insured value.
You’ll also need a separate flood insurance policy to cover any storm damage related to flooding. Even if you have a policy, the National Flood Insurance Program’s $250,000 cap may mean you’d benefit from excess floor coverage.
The time to act is now. That helps you plan financially for any unexpected policy-gap costs — and gives you time to get new flood insurance coverage in place.
“It takes about 30 days to obtain a policy,” Doug Lyons, a financial advisor at Douglas J. Lyons Financial Group in Red Bank, New Jersey, told CNBC.
Read more: Make sure your home is ready for hurricane season
Gathering important financial documents is a key part of a disaster preparedness plan. That way, you can grab them quickly in an evacuation.
Experts recommend pulling together documents that might hard to replace (like birth certificates and Social Security cards) and those that might be helpful after a storm (like your homeowners insurance policy and contact details for your agent). Having some cash on hand is smart, too.
Read more: Here’s what should be in your “go bag”
Even if you don’t live in a hurricane-prone area, you may want to consider insurance if you have travel plans that will take you to or through an at-risk destination. Ahead of Hurricane Matthew last year, U.S. airlines canceled thousands of flights, while Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport temporarily shut down.
Whether you’d benefit from insurance depends on several factors, including the cost of your trip and where you’re headed.
“There’s no simple answer, because everyone’s trip is slightly different,” Christopher Elliott, who advocates on behalf of travelers through Elliott.org, told CNBC.
Policies can vary widely, so dig into the details before you buy. Hurricanes are typically covered, but one policy might allow you to cancel your trip as soon as there’s an official storm warning in effect for your destination, while another may require a bigger impact like a delayed flight.
This is another area where procrastination doesn’t pay: To get coverage, you must buy the policy before NOAA names the storm threatening your trip.
Read more: 4 questions to ask before you buy travel insurance