Preparing for a hurricane amid a pandemic

As hurricane season comes into full swing, now is the time to prepare just in case one makes it to Southwest Florida this year.

Make sure you have water and food at the house and anything you need to protect your home.

But shopping for supplies does look different in a pandemic. One Florida Gulf Coast University professor spoke to WINK News about some of the issues that concern him as we prepare for a potential storm.

“It’s not the supply chain that’s the issue, it’s the fact we have to social distance in places like Lowes and Home Depot. Hopefully, people have prepared or will be preparing very shortly,” said Tom Smyth, a professor at  Florida Gulf Coast University.

When you do begin to prepare, the National Weather Service has a great list.

You want all the basic items like garbage bags, flashlights, pliers, can openers.

You’ll also want to keep a “Go bag” with medicine, enough cash for a few days and your personal documents.

You will also want to take photos and videos of every part of your home in advance of severe weather.

Apps like Dropbox “Ever” and google photos are all really great free apps on your phone that help store those safely.

And when it comes to homeowners’ insurance a lot has changed over the years so it’s important that you really know your policy inside and out.

“If you have coverage for wind-driven rain in your policy, for example, some companies do not include that in your policy, it’s excluded, so it’s important to know what exactly is covered,” said Debbie Dellinger, Crep, Associate Agency Owner at Brightway Insurance.

You can also pick up a WINK News hurricane guide for everything you need to know. And remember, things can change rapidly.

Trust Wink News meteorologists will continue to bring you updates as the hurricane season progresses.