For residents of America’s East Coast, hurricanes are a fact of life. Though most residents have lived through a number of them in the past, it is impossible to know how bad the next one might be. As such, it is important to have your home prepared for any hurricanes that may move in your direction. Some of the most important things that you can do to protect your home include:
1) Install Storm Shutters
Storm shutters are your first line of defense during any major storm, so you need to ensure that you have them ready to go. If you are on a budget, have your plywood pre-cut and ready to install at a moment’s notice. If you can afford to spend a little extra, it is usually a good idea to go with a steel or aluminum shutter solution.
2) Protect Your Roof
Most insurance companies will tell you that roof damage is the most common home insurance claim after a hurricane passes through town. A damaged roof can lead to water entering your home and causing serious damage to your walls, ceiling, furniture, and appliances. As such, it is important to ensure that your roof is well protected. Nail down any loose shingles, install storm-rated hurricane straps, and reinforce your gable ends. These procedures can be costly, but are often worth it.
Are you familiar with Fortified homes? We have a whole post on this topic here.
3) Be Prepared To Clear Out Your Yard
When the storm is coming your way, be prepared to clear any tables, chairs, ornaments, tools, and just about anything else that might become airborne out of your yard. These items will soon become dangerous projectiles when the storm comes if you leave them outside.
Though going through a hurricane is never a fun experience, with a little preparation you should be able to ride out most storms without too much trouble. However, if the storm looks like it could be serious, you should always be prepared to evacuate to a safer space if necessary.
4) Tie. Everything. Down.
For more in-depth tips on preparing for a storm, check out the following articles:
10 Effective Hurricane Preparedness Tips
Other hurricane related posts:
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