The Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research released a guide to help homeowners on the Gulf Coast prepare for weather-related disasters.

The guide was produced by the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research at The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business in partnership with Smart Home America and Coastal Alabama Partnership.

“Some 20,000 homes along Alabama’s coastal counties are not insured for wind damage, and thousands more are functionally uninsured,” said Lars Powell, director of the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research. “The new Alabama Coastal Insurance Shopper’s Guide will help people better prepare for, and recover from, hurricanes, and potentially save money in the process.”

The guide features sections on the process of buying homeowners insurance, elements of coverage, flood insurance, and even a Homeowners Comparison Checklist, as well as a “Top 10 Questions” to ask when buying insurance. It is designed to help people better understand homeowners insurance and help ensure they are buying the appropriate coverage.