The first few months of summer produced a quiet start to hurricane season, but it is always a good idea to ensure you are prepared in the event of a storm in your area.
A great place to begin is with your supply kit checklist. Flashlights, batteries and hygiene products are staples on every checklist. But it’s also useful to consider making copies of important documents and an extra set of house, car and office keys. The Florida Division of Emergency Management offers a comprehensive Supply Kit Checklist that may be helpful.
Other available resources include:
Red Cross Hurricane Preparedness: Learn best practices to keep your home and family safe.
National Hurricane Center: Stay up to date with the latest information on active storms.
National Weather Service: Get detailed information regarding weather impacts in your local area.
Know Your Evacuation Zone: If your area is experiencing hurricane surge flooding, it is important to know your zone.
At VyStar Credit Union, we are also here to help. When a hurricane or tropical storm is near any of the communities we serve, our teams work to provide the latest information regarding branch hours, Contact Center hours and ATM availability via our Locations page and our social media channels. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to receive important information as it becomes available.
Another best practice is to make sure you have downloaded the VyStar Mobile app. The app is available for your phone on the App Store or Google Play Store and is especially important if you are unable to access your accounts via your desktop or laptop computer.
We also have financial preparedness tips available on our website. For example, extended power outages could prevent you from accessing ATMs, using your credit/debit card at retailers or using a check for payment if merchants are unable to perform proper verification. That’s why it is important to make sure you have cash on hand, especially small bills.
It is also important to regularly review your insurance policies. Call your agent(s) to make sure you have enough coverage for your property, vehicle(s) and yourself in the event of a hurricane. Some policies require at least 30 days to take effect. Have questions? VyStar Insurance Agency offers information on protecting your home, family and much more.
It’s important to make sure you are prepared, and VyStar is here to help.