TAMPA, FL (352today.com) – Insurance experts at the American Automobile Association (AAA), the auto club group, have provided important advice to help residents prepare for Idalia, expected to hit Florida as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday.

This is the time to gather your supplies and make sure your home and auto documents are in a safe place for retrieval when you need them.  Make sure you have your insurance policy information and phone numbers for your agent and provider, should you need to file a claim.

AAA provides the following insurance advice:

  • Review your home insurance policies. Contact your provider to ensure you have adequate coverage for any damages. If you do not have flood insurance, it’s too late to get a new policy for this storm.
  • Check your auto insurance policy to ensure you have “comprehensive” coverage. This helps with vehicle damage like flooding or if a tree falls on it.
  • Store important documents in a portable waterproof container. Documents could include insurance policy information, birth certificates, social security cards, and more.
  • Take Inventory. Document your belongings by walking through your home with a video camera or smart phone. Keep a record of large purchases including the cost of the item, purchase date, and model and serial numbers.
  • Protect your home. Bring in loose items like patio furniture, bikes and children’s toys – which could all turn into dangerous projectiles in strong winds. Trim trees near your house. Ensure you have materials to make sandbags and board up windows, if necessary.

AAA cites a 2023 survey of Floridians finding that 20% would evacuate their home for a Category 2 storm or higher, and more than 27% would leave for a Category 3 hurricane or stronger.

AAA’s Evacuation Advice

  • Identify multiple destinations in case the storm shifts or roads are closed.
  • Reserve a hotel room early, if needed. Hotels along evacuation routes often fill up fast due to high demand. If you are traveling with pets, be advised that some properties may loosen restrictions to be more accommodating to evacuees.
  • Pack important documents like insurance policies, marriage and birth certificates.
  • Bring enough food, water and supplies for each family member, including pets.
  • If you are evacuating, leave early. Last minute evacuees often find congested highways and long lines at filling stations, which could result in temporary fuel outages.
  • Follow the advice of local authorities and leave if instructed to.
  • Before you go, turn off all utilities and unplug every electrical item in the home, to minimize the risk of a fire.

AAA also urges you to be patient and courteous when you’re out on the road.

AAA provides the following tips for drivers:

  • Leave early so you are not in a rush
  • Avoid distractions while driving
  • Slow down

When driving in the rain, AAA advises:

  • Increase your following distance
  • Turn your headlights on
  • Turn your hazard lights off
  • Avoid using cruise control
  • Avoid flooded areas
  • If visibility is poor, pull over to a safe place and wait until the rain diminishes