....NO one ever said it was easy to live through a Hurricane. I am so happy we dodged a major bullet.  Other's not so lucky.

MY TAKEAWAY

1)KEEP ALL DOCUMENTS FOR YOUR HOME TOGETHER: I put my home documents in sealed plastic. Make sure accessible just in case you have any flood damage. I have a sealer for my food and it works great for this as well.

2)DON'T PANIC, BUT BE PREPARED. First time ever, I bought up all my water, filled my cars with gas prior to the storm.  Do you know how relaxed that made me. I would read people trying to get water or gas and felt their stress. Water or gas will not go bad. Have extra cases of water on hand.  I now keep 4 cases of extra water, always.

3)PAINTERS PLASTIC:

You can buy a roll of this in Home Depot for 22.00.  This storm was the first time I even thought to do this.  I covered a lot of my furniture, computers, and bed in this thin plastic.  Why?  I felt if their was a problem with my roof at least I could come home to some of my things in tacked and not feel a total loss.

4)PICTURES AND DOCUMENTS: I learned some great tips here.  Put your pictures/documents in your dishwasher or washer/dryer.  They are sealed shut and will stay safe and dry.

5)INSURANCE: Their is that old saying you get what you pay for.  I am finding out, through my client's aggravation that many home owner's insurance companies have a clause: Their contractors must do the work on your house.  Clients have told me, insurance companies contractors are like chop shops and many of their contractor's are being sued.  READ THE FINE PRINT IN YOUR HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE AND TALK TO YOUR AGENT.

6)DRY OUTS: When you have your home dried out by a mold remediation company, read the contract prior to signing up with them. Many will have you sign they will be putting your house back together.  READ THE FINE PRINT. Some may think why not, saves time on hiring someone else.  Many times they are hiring an outside Construction company and putting a mark up on top of it. SOMEBODY WILL BE PAYING EXTRA FOR THIS.  IF YOUR INSURANCE PAYS, THEY WILL BE RAISING YOUR RATES THROUGH THE ROOF. If they are doing the work in house, they are not always staffed to do both jobs or licensed.   Old saying, you can't be good at all things, stick to what you know.