Hurricane Defense – Prepping Your Home from Probable Disaster
Natural disasters can occur without a moment's notice, but hurricanes can at least be identified before they hit your area. When it's hurricane season, it's important to do some planning. Since your house is one of your most valuable expenses, it's a smart idea to do what you can to prevent the perils that hurricanes can bring to your house and to prevent any storm damage restoration. There are a lot of things to check up on when prepping your home for the big storm. To secure your home from a hurricane, follow the methods listed below.Hurricane Planning Checklist
- Garage Door – If your home has a garage, this may be one of the first things to take care of. Strong winds can penetrate the typical residential garage door because they're not built with the extra support. What can take place is the wind will bring about a positive push in your garage, and the wind outside of the structure causes a negative pull. When this happens, your roof and garage will undergo a lot of stress because of this push-pull situation. To prevent a major storm damage restoration, you can buy braces that will help your garage door resist hurricane conditions. This is the most efficient step, but if you don't have the time to install a kit, then you can use your car to help support your garage door.
- Windows and Doors – A typical incidence that's correlated with hurricanes is water damage, and when your windows and doors aren't safeguarded this will allow the wind and rain to get into your house. Before the storm reaches your area, confirm that your shutters are sturdy and in a functional condition. The latches should be stable and you'll also want to put additional locks on them. You can also board up your windows if you don't have storm shutters. A typical misconception with window prep is that you can use masking tape on the window; however, this won't help at all. Also, verify that your doors are sturdy and that the deadbolts are working right. You can also brace your doors for added measure.
- Roof – Make sure to go over your roof for any damaged shingles and other susceptible spots. You can use roof cement to fix any loose shingles, and you should consider getting hurricane straps to make sure your roof is fastened to your home. Additionally, it's a good idea to seal any areas where wires come into your house to prevent any water damage from occurring. During your roof examination, check to see if your gutters are cleaned out. Suitable irrigation is vital for directing water away from your property during the heavy rains.
- Your Property – The land outside of your property can be a number one hazard when a hurricane approaches. Any loose items could be picked from the high wind and be heaved into your residence and your neighbor's as well. Make sure to relocate any BBQs, garden accessories, children's toys and patio furniture to an area out of harm's way. One other thing you'll want to do is remove any dangling or dead branches from your trees and shrubs.
- Car – When you're caught up in safeguarding your property from a hurricane, it's easy to forget about your car. Ensure that your car is filled with gas, that your tires are in good condition, the windows are up and that your windshield wipers are good. If you have to park on the street, you'll want to verify that you're not parked under trees or in a location that is prone to floods.