Are you looking ahead to the upcoming hurricane season? If so, it’s crucial to ensure that your home is properly prepared to withstand the potential impact of these powerful storms. While you can’t control the weather, you can take charge with measures to protect your home and loved ones.
Hurricanes cause pressure changes, high winds, and heavy rain, all of which can wreak havoc on your home. You may be riding out the storm at home or evacuating. Regardless, there are steps you should take to ensure that your home is hurricane ready. Below are four essential tips to help you prepare for hurricane season.
1. Store Important Documents
Certainly you keep your important documents in a safe place, but is it waterproof? Hurricanes can cause damage to your home, ruining paper documents such as birth certificates, wills, and passports. Storing important papers in waterproof containers is wise if you live in areas where hurricanes are common. You may also want to digitally back up documents and store them on the cloud. This way, you’ll have access to them even if something happens to the physical copies.
Speaking of important documents, you definitely want to review your homeowners insurance prior to any incidents. Are hurricanes covered by your policy? If not, you may want to look into hurricane insurance for your home. This will help cover the damage that your home may experience during hurricane season, financially protecting you.
2. Prepare for a Power Outage
Hurricanes often cause power outages. Being prepared in advance is a good idea, particularly if you are staying home during the storm. Gather flashlights and extra batteries as well as a battery-operated radio to listen to updates on the storm. You may also want to get a generator for emergency back-up power. Generators come in a range of sizes. You can get a small unit that powers one appliance or a large model that will work for your whole house.
Never use a gasoline-powered generator in your home or even near a window, vent, or door. The fumes could enter your home, causing CO poisoning. If the electricity does go out, don’t resort to using a charcoal grill or camping stove inside your home or garage. It can result in an increase in CO, and it’s a fire hazard.
Even without a BBQ in your basement, you’ll still want to have your fire extinguisher handy in case of a severe storm. Be sure it’s in working order and you know how to use it. Also, install a carbon monoxide detector or check the batteries in your current detector. Fires and carbon monoxide leaks can occur during emergencies such as hurricanes.
3. Weatherproof Your Home and Yard
You’ll want to prepare the outside of your home and yard for the upcoming hurricane. Clear your yard of anything that could blow around and damage your house or other structures. This includes lawn furniture, grills, planters, and similar things. Put these items inside your garage or a shed, if possible. You’ll also want to check your roof for any loose shingles or leaks. Make repairs to prevent water from entering your home or further damage to your roof before the storm.
You should trim trees around your home to prevent loose branches from breaking and damaging your house. Look for branches that are dying or diseased, weak, or broken. Remove any branches that are too close to your home to prevent them from breaking windows. To further protect your windows use storm shutters if you have them. If you do not, you can get plywood to install over all glass. High winds mean that loose objects will fly around in hurricanes. You want to prevent your windows from getting hit and shattering.
4. Make an Emergency Kit
You’ll want to prepare for at least a week of no power or water following a hurricane. Stores and pharmacies will not be open directly following a severe hurricane, so you’ll need to plan ahead. Be sure you have enough medicine, food, and other supplies for everyone in the family. Don’t forget your pets. Gather their bowls, water and food, and a carrier so you’re prepared if you have to evacuate.
Store clean water in case the water supply gets shut off or contaminated. Have large containers on hand so that you can fill a week’s worth of drinking water for your family. You can also fill your sinks and tub with water for washing. Purchasing a supply of moist towelettes is helpful for keeping your hands clean. Get a supply of non-perishable foods. Canned items such as tuna, vegetables, and fruits are helpful, but don’t forget to have a manual can opener available.
Be Hurricane Ready
Whether hurricane season is months away or a storm is already approaching your town, you’ll want to be prepared. By taking these proactive measures to prepare your home for hurricane season now, you can help minimize the risk of damage. You’ll also ensure the safety and well-being of your whole family.
