NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Hurricane season starts tomorrow. Don't get caught without enough insurance this year.

In today's top 5 Tips we're going to tell you how you can prevent being underinsured.

If you need to file a claim, you'll need to have a record of your personal property. Take pictures of different rooms and note all the furnishings and possessions. This kind of home inventory will speed up the claims process and you'll be able to substantiate your losses.

You can download software to help your out with your list at the Insurance Institute at www.knowyourstuff.org.

You may have less insurance coverage than you think for the contents of your home. Under the terms of the standard homeowners policy (that's a HO-3 in insurance insider's jargon), you will likely have chosen a cash value policy, which means that any settlement you get for damaged furniture, clothes and other household goods will be depreciated for wear and tear.

In other words, you won't have enough money to replace them -- and the difference will come from your pocket. You're better off with replacement cost coverage, which will cover that difference, although it costs about 10 percent more than cash value insurance.

It's estimated that 59 percent of American homes are undervalued by insurance companies, according to a company that provides building-cost data to the insurance industry. So it's unlikely that you will get the amount you need to rebuild your home.

And what's worse, homeowners have been improving or renovating their homes at a quick pace because of favorable interest rates. You want all your improvements to be covered by insurance, so keep your insurance company up to date on your projects. Otherwise, you could find yourself underinsured.

Check out www.accucoverage.com. This is an online assessment program you can use for about $20. It will give you an assessment of how much your insurance should be increased.

And it's not only major home improvements you have to account for. Don't forget about inflation. The price of lumber increased almost 20 percent last year, according to Linda Jovanelly of Marshall & Swift Boekh. Your insurance company may be automatically adjusting your yearly payments to keep up with inflation. The insurance industry's inflation guard is tied to a local index that tracks the costs of labor and building materials.

You may be paying a few dollars extra on your premium, says Madelyn Flannagan of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America. You'll have to call your company to find out if this is included in your policy.

If you have baseball card collections, furs, art work or jewelry, you'll want to think about getting more insurance. Most homeowner policies have limited coverage for items like these. Under a regular homeowners policy, you will only be covered for up to $1,500 for jewelry.

If you have expensive or rare items, get them appraised and look into a separate floater policy. You will get the full dollar value of the item or a replacement. Generally floater premiums will be a percentage of the value of the item.

If you have jewelry you keep in a safe deposit box, you'll be able to get a discount on your premium, according to Jeanne Salvatore of the Insurance Information Institute.

Your home owners policy covers most perils, like fire, theft, tornados and storms. But when it comes to flooding, you're on your own. Remember that 70 percent of Americans live on the coast and may be vulnerable to flooding. In fact homeowners are 26 times more likely to be affected by a flood than a fire according to the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America.

The average premium for a flood insurance policy is $400 to $500 a year on $150,000 to $200,000 worth of insurance. You can only get up to $250,000 for your property, so if you think you'll want more coverage, you can get extra flooding insurance through private companies like the American International Group where you can insure your house up to $1 million.

To assess your risk, check out the National Flood Insurance Program's Web site at www.floodsmart.gov or call (888) 379-9531. There is a 30-day waiting period before your coverage takes effect. Keep in mind that flood insurance specifically covers rising waters coming from outside your home. So damage brought about by a broken water pipe or sewage backup won't be covered.

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Gerri Willis is a personal finance editor for CNN Business News and the host for Open House. Send your questions, your comments and your own ideas to us at 5tips@cnn.com.