USAA Offers Property Protection Tips and Evacuation Checklist

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--USAA, the sixth largest homeowners insurer, offers the following tips to protect your property if you think your residence might be affected by Hurricane Earl:

Rearrange belongings. Keep valuable items away from windows.
Bring the outdoors inside. Bring lighter-weight outdoor items – such as trash cans, patio furniture, plants and toys – indoors. Secure other objects that could be picked up by the wind.
Shelter your car. If you have to evacuate and plan to leave a vehicle behind, put it in the garage or on higher ground. Avoid parking it under a tree or on a low-lying street where it could be damaged by water.
Secure heavy items. Make sure to properly store items such as a boat or motorcycle, following the same general guidelines as with your car. If your boat will stay in the water, tie it down securely and remove the motor and any small objects.
Evacuate. Leave the area if necessary to protect yourself and your family. Always comply with mandatory evacuations by civil authority.

Evacuation Tips

USAA also offers the following evacuation tips:

Pack enough emergency supplies for two to three days. Bring one gallon of water per person, per day, food that won't spoil, prescription medications, clothing and a blanket or two for each person.
Prepare the car. If you are driving, fill up the gas tank as soon as possible. Check your car's emergency gear, such as a flashlight, spare tire and jumper cables.
Plan your route. Check the Internet or listen to the news to find out about road closures and the storm's predicted path.
Stay in touch. Grab your cell phone charger, a portable radio and extra batteries. If you have access to a national weather radio, bring it along, too.
Make an ATM stop. Get some cash to take care of expenses along the way, as stores may be unable to accept checks or credit cards after the storm.
Collect insurance information and important papers. Collect your auto and homeowners or renters insurance policies. Bring your household inventory, if you have one, in case you have to file a claim. Don't forget health insurance cards, and bring copies of your bank and investment account numbers, since you may not be able to access these accounts online and may need to call instead.
Seek refuge. Call organizations like the Red Cross, Salvation Army or FEMA to find out where official shelters are located and how to get there.
Inform your extended family. If possible, let a family member in another city or state know about your planned destination and route.
Contact your employer. Notify your employer's emergency contacts.
Buy or create a first-aid kit. If you don't have one on hand, fill a small bag with basic medical supplies, such as bandages, pain relievers, and antiseptics. Looking for ideas? USAA has an example of a kit located on their website.
Pack your pets. If your pets cannot travel with you, call local animal shelters to see if they provide emergency shelter for pets. Some evacuation shelters won't allow pets due to state and federal health and safety regulations, but they may be able to stay in certain hotel or motel chains for an additional fee.

Last-Minute Shopping List

Gallons of water
Flashlights
Batteries
Non-perishable food
Manual can opener
First-aid kit
Medications and prescriptions

Additional information can be found at the Disaster & Recovery Center located at www.usaa.com/help, including a video about how to protect your property featuring former head of the National Hurricane Center, Max Mayfield, and Dr. Tim Reinhold of the Institute for Business & Home Safety..

USAA members can file a claim at www.usaa.com/claims or by calling USAA at 1-800-531-USAA (8722).

About USAA

USAA provides insurance, banking, investment and retirement products and services to 7.7 million members of the U.S. military and their families. Known for its legendary commitment to its members, USAA is consistently recognized for outstanding service, employee well-being and financial strength.