Joseph Porcelli joined Nextdoor in May 2014 and serves as its Global Public Agency and Crisis Response Lead. In his role, Joseph manages relationships with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as the company’s disaster response initiatives. He is also an internal partner to global public agency teams, country managers, and product leaders.
Hi, neighbors! I’m Nextdoor’s Professional Neighbor and Global Public Agency and Crisis Response Lead. Over the last 20 years, my professional and volunteer work has involved preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. In fact, many of you may have seen my posts on Nextdoor during disasters and emergencies. I hope you are well and safe!
As you may have heard, September is National Preparedness Month — which serves as a reminder about the importance of preparing today for disasters and emergencies of tomorrow.
Based on my experience, I wish everyone knew and would do the following to prepare, drawing on 20 years of experience and interacting with neighbors using Nextdoor.
- Hurricanes aren’t just a coastal concern. These devastating storms can cause major damage through storm surge, wind damage, rip currents, and flooding thousands of miles from the coasts, such as the flooding in North Carolina and Vermont from storms from the Gulf Coast.
- Listen to local officials and stay weather aware with Nextdoor. Check or join Nextdoor to get updates from alerting partners and alerts about your neighborhood from local public agencies. It’s also important to purchase or replace batteries for your NOAA weather radio and check your local municipality’s website to see if they offer an emergency notifications system and sign up for alerts. The FEMA app is also a great resource. Lastly, be sure to install the Nextdoor app on your phone for the best experience.
- You can survive without food for around three weeks, but you can’t go without water for more than 3 to 5 days. My family and I use a 30-gallon water bladder that we refill every six months. Alternatively, you can refill used water/juice/soda cans with water and store them in a cool, dry place away from sunlight — or in the freezer (¾ full), which will provide ice and help regulate the temperature should the power go out. As important as water is, medications are equally important, so be sure to prioritize refilling your prescriptions. It's also a good idea to keep your tub full of water for flushing or boiling for drinking water if needed.
- You need to have an evacuation and shelter plan, as well as know your evacuation routes. This does not have to be far away. If you live on the coast, it can be 10 miles inland at a friend's or family member's house — or a hotel. The key is to plan this ahead of time, and it should not be in a known flood zone. If you have a pet, ensure your pet is welcome ahead of time.
- If you need help preparing for, evacuating, or cleaning up, ask your neighbors, and if you want to help, offer your help by posting on Nextdoor. You can ask for and offer help with things like running errands, securing outdoor items, clearing drains, filling and placing sandbags, installing hurricane shutters, and getting a ride to a shelter or evacuating.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly for your long-term recovery, you need to financially protect yourself with the right insurance. 90% of natural disasters in the United States involve flooding, yet only 4% of homeowners have flood insurance. Just one inch of floodwater can cause roughly $25,000 of damage to your home. Below are critical questions to ask yourself and your insurance agent:
- How much money would it cost me to repair or rebuild my home if it’s damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster or fire, and do I have enough insurance coverage to replace it based on the rising costs of construction materials and labor? Replacement costs are running double the U.S. inflation rate.
- How much would replacing all my possessions (e.g., furniture, electronics, artwork, clothing) cost, and is my insurance coverage adequate?
- How much money would it take to pay off my vehicle and purchase a new one if a flood destroys it?
- Am I aware that most standard homeowners, condo, and renters insurance policies do not cover flooding?
- Do I have a sewer backup insurance endorsement in case the water or sewage comes up through sewer pipes? This is separate from flood insurance but an essential add-on to your standard home policy, especially if you have a basement.
- Do I have comprehensive insurance on my vehicles? Comprehensive coverage provides “non-collision” coverage, including car fires, trees falling on your vehicle, theft, vandalism, and cracked windshields.
A flood policy typically takes 30 days to take effect. Please don’t wait to add this critical insurance coverage until the storm arrives. I don’t want you or your family to go through what my friend and his family are dealing with now.
For helpful information about insurance, visit the Insurance Information Institute → http://www.iii.org
For a comprehensive list of preparedness tips, visit ready.gov.
Look for tips from me on Nextdoor and on our Instagram page.
