Hurrican Season is upon us. Are you ready for a natural disaster? While living in fear is not optimal, being calm and prepared for anything that heads your way can keep you and your loved ones safe, and keep costly damage at bay. The United States saw $306 billion in damage as the result of natural disasters in 2017, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information, making it the costliest year for damages on record. Despite this, 60 percent of individuals surveyed by Farmers Insurance® didn't have a plan in place should disaster strike.

Below are several disaster-ready tips from Farmers Insurance®.

Be Proactive. To start, prepare an emergency kit with necessary supplies, food and medicine and make a communication plan. Identify your area's evacuation routes to determine where your family will meet, and how everyone will get there, should you need to evacuate.

Listen Carefully. Having as much advance warning as possible before a severe weather situation is critical. Become familiar with your community's early warning system, and make sure all family members know what to do when an alarm sounds.

Know Your Neighbors. There really can be safety in numbers. Join (or start) a neighborhood organization so residents can communicate and share emergency resources, such as generators or chainsaws, if need be.

Research Your Local Risks. Learn about the possible emergencies that are more likely to happen in your region and how best to respond to them. Educate yourself as well about emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government. Knowing what to do during an emergency is an important part of being prepared.

Inspect and Protect. Once the storm has passed and you've checked in with family and friends, the next step is to call your insurance agent to report any property damage. If it is safe to do so, you can help protect your property from any further damage by making emergency repairs to your home. This could include boarding up windows, putting a tarp on the roof, and salvaging undamaged items.

Source: Farmers Insurance®