April brings more than spring flowers to Oklahoma. Severe weather, including hail, damaging winds, lightning and tornadoes, can also occur. But we don’t have to be afraid! Let’s see ourselves as prepared, not as potential victims. A few simple steps now can make a big difference later.

Apply for the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Program First, let’s talk about protecting your most valuable asset. The Strengthen Oklahoma Homes (SOH) Program is open to homeowners statewide. You could qualify for a $10,000 grant to fortify your roof, reduce the impact of events, and save on insurance. Homeowners are seeing an average annual premium savings of almost $800! Get started by visiting oid.ok.gov/okready. Review qualifications, gather documents, and apply. Don’t miss this opportunity to boost your resilience before severe weather strikes.

Build or Update Your Home Inventory Having an inventory on hand will save you time if you need to file a claim. You can use a physical inventory. I highly recommend downloading the app from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Document your home and belongings by taking photos and videos and writing down serial numbers. If you opt for a physical inventory list, scan it, keep a physical copy in a safe place, and upload a digital copy to a secure cloud service.