Most people don't think about their insurance until after a disaster happens, but now is the time to be preparing. The South Carolina Insurance News Service recommends at least four major items be on your hurricane planning list:

• Review your insurance coverage with your insurance agent or company and make sure you know what your policy covers. Write down your basic insurance information, such as the name and phone number of your insurance agent, your insurance policy number and your insurance claims phone number and keep it with you if you evacuate.
  
  

• Ask your agent or company what you can do to reduce your chance of a loss, such as installing hurricane shutters, in order to protect your valuable personal belongings.

• Update your household inventory. Make a list, take pictures or videotape your personal belongings and store the inventory in a safe place outside your home. To help with this task, take advantage of this FREE home inventory software - "Taking a Home Inventory".
  
  
• Check to see how your insurance will handle damaged, stolen or destroyed items. Does your policy provide replacement cost coverage or actual cash value? Full replacement coverage is preferable and now is the time to know.
  
  
• Coastal residents may need as many as four separate insurance policies to protect their home and property from storms.
  
  
• Flood insurance is NOT part of most homeowner, mobile home or rental insurance policies. You must buy separate flood coverage and there is a waiting period of 30 days.
  
  

• If your homeowner's insurance does not have wind/hail coverage, you will need to purchase separate coverage which has a waiting period of 15 days.

• You can't buy homeowner/renter's insurance after a hurricane watch or warning has been issued.