VERO BEACH, Fla. — Residents in Indian River County are preparing for hurricane season, drawing on lessons from past storms and advice from insurance experts on how to protect their homes and families.
Luina Ribera, a Vero Beach resident, said she still remembers the sounds of Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne moving through the area.
WATCH: Vero Beach resident who lived through Frances and Jeanne says 'preparation is key'
"All the noise… dink, dink, dink… and whooooshh — and all this water came into the house."
Ribera said the hardest part wasn't the storm itself — it was what followed.
"That was one of the big things we learned from Frances and Jeanne… the aftermath… there's no supplies to repair anything, insurance claims — it takes forever," she said.
Preparing in the months before hurricane season can make a significant difference.
"Preparation is key — it's really important," she said.
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Insurance experts say one of the most common mistakes homeowners make is failing to review their coverage before a storm threatens.
Brad Eskew, a Treasure Coast insurance agent, said coverage limits deserve a close look.
"Look at your coverage limits — are the coverage limits matching today's rebuilding costs? That's a big one because a lot of people are underinsured," he said.
Eskew also said flooding is a risk for every Florida resident, regardless of location.
"The whole state of Florida is under a flood zone," he said. "It just depends if you're in a high-risk or low-risk area."
He added that a storm doesn't need to make a direct hit to cause serious damage.
"As we know in Florida, the effects can be well beyond the eye of a storm," Eskew said.
Experts say now is the time to review insurance coverage, stock up on supplies, and have a plan in place before the next storm threatens the Treasure Coast.
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