Are You Prepared for Barry? Steps to Take Before and After the Storm

Amy P. Fennell • July 11, 2019

Written by: Bruce A. Bender, CFM
 Bruce has been providing outreach and risk communication services to Federal, state and local governments such as FEMA's National Flood Insurance Programs marketing campaign (FloodSmart) and their nationwide mapping effort, known as Risk MAP. He also works with coastal and inland counties and communities in helping them develop and implement successful public outreach and stakeholder engagement strategies.

Are You Prepared?

With Barry baring down on Louisiana, it is important you are prepared and stay safe should flooding and other damage occur. Here are some steps to take now, if you haven’t already taken them, plus some post-storm pointers.

Before the Storm

·        Create an Emergency Kit with supplies to last at least 72 hours.

·        Bring in items that can float or be blown away (e.g., outdoor furniture, toys).

·        Turn off propane tanks and unplug small appliances.

·        Create a communication plan with other family members and friends should you lose power.

·        Safeguard important documents; keep them in a waterproof container or a digital record in the cloud.  This includes a digital record of household items and valuable belongings (e.g., take a video or photos with your phone of each room and the exterior of the building).  If you have swatches of carpet, wallpaper, upholstery, window treatments, etc., save those in a waterproof container.

·        Don’t forget your pets; have a plan for them too!

·        If flooding is forecasted or imminent for your specific area, take flood loss avoidance measures, of which some may be covered by your flood insurance policy.

·        Contact your insurance agent to learn how best to get hold of them after the storm.

After the Storm

·        Don’t walk or drive in floodwaters.  There may be downed power lines and dangerous debris that you cannot see.  And just 6 inches of water can knock you off your feet.  If driving, there may be washed out sections of the roads you can’t see.  And just 12 inches of moving water can float many cars; 24 inches can sweep away trucks and SUVs. Turn Around. Don’t Drown.

·        When it is safe to return home and you find it damaged, contact your insurance agent immediately. A claims adjuster should contact you in 24-48 hours (depending on the severity of the storm) to start the claims process. Review this infographic or fact sheet to learn more about the claims process.

·        While waiting for the adjuster, take photos or videos inside and outside of the home. If possible, record model, make and serial numbers of major appliances.  Remove flood-damaged items, making sure you document well what is taken out.

For more tips about what to do before and after a flood, read FEMA’s Claims Handbook for policyholders.  For more information about flood insurance, visit FloodSmart.gov. And to learn how to plan ahead for future severe weather, visit Ready.gov.

Consumer Guide Update: Teen Financial Literacy

By Louisiana REALTORS® • October 9, 2026
Want Your Teen to Own a Home Someday? Start Talking Money Now Teens may not be thinking about mortgage rates or down payments just yet, but the money habits they’re building now can follow them for years. And 88% of teens surveyed by Fannie Mae and Junior Achievement said they want to own a home someday. This week’s Consumer Guide: Talk to Your Teens About Money and Homeownership makes those conversations a little easier, covering everything from credit scores and budgeting to debt, renting versus owning and saving for that eventual down payment. So yes, you may have to interrupt the doomscrolling. But helping teens get smarter about money today could put them in a much better position to get the keys to a home of their own down the road. Download all of NAR’s Consumer Guides in English or Spanish at facts.realtor. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Teen Financial Literacy Fraud Red Flags Helping Family Members Become Homeowners Prepare Your Home for Hurricane Season Condominium Insurance Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their home buying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. The next Consumer Guide, scheduled for publication on Oct. 21, will cover winter cold and storm preparedness.

Constitutional Amendment Positions for November 3 Election

By Louisiana REALTORS® • October 9, 2026
Homeownership Is on Louisiana's November Ballot

Cookbook for the REALTORS® Relief Foundation On Sale Now!

By Louisiana REALTORS® • October 8, 2026
After months of gathering recipes from across our Louisiana REALTORS® family, the cookbook is ready! This 200+ page collection is filled with Louisiana flavor, REALTOR® heart and recipes contributed by our members. We launched sales of the cookbook at the Fall Governance Meetings. You can now purchase your copy for $30 directly from the printer and shipped to you! Additionally, we will have copies available at the RRF booth at NXT . After NXT, we will carry a limited stock at the LR office for you to purchase through the LR Merch Shop and pick-up from the office or at an LR event, as stock is available. Even better, $15 from every cookbook sold will be donated to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation (RRF) to help provide housing-related assistance to REALTORS® and their families following disasters. Pick up a copy for yourself, grab one as a gift and enjoy a taste of Louisiana while supporting a great cause!
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