Hurricanes, tornadoes, high winds, blizzards, none of these natural storm occurrences will be friendly to your home. While riding out a bad storm can be daunting for humans, your house can take a beating too.
Before you and your home have to face a storm head-on, you need to make sure your home is ready.
Get prepared and protect your home by going through this list of ways to prepare your home for a storm.
1. Update Insurance Policies
Before you’re even in the path of a storm, take the time to review the insurance policies that cover your home. In the worst case scenario, you want to be certain you have the coverage you need for your home.
While many policies cover some storm-related issues, there are some types of damage that may not be part of a homeowner’s policy. Generally speaking, damage from flooding, earthquakes, and hurricanes needs a special rider.
If your property has lots of trees or your home is near trees, you might want to be sure you are covered from potential tree damage caused in a storm.
The best way to protect your home is to be prepared. Find out more about your insurance needs and coverage by contacting us today.
2. Check Doors and Windows
Whether you’re facing a tornado or hurricane, sealing your doors and windows is a must. If there is the smallest break in a seal, wind can get in. This could allow strong tornado or hurricane winds to lift your roof from your house.
It’s also important to seal doors and windows to prevent water from getting inside your home. An important step in weather protection for your home is ensuring that all windows and doors seal and lock when facing the elements.
3. Check Your Shingles
Like your doors and windows, check out your roof too. You want to be sure to fix or replace any loose or missing shingles. A strong wind catches onto a loose shingle and you will face some real damage to your roof.
If your home has any chimneys or vents in the roof, also check to be sure those are sealed. Any breach in a seal can mean water that enters into your home in a bad storm.
4. Fix Loose Siding
Also, protect your home’s exterior by checking the siding carefully. Look for any loose pieces of siding that might catch a strong wind.
Loose siding can go flying in a strong wind. This not only can cause more damage, but it also leaves your home’s exterior exposed.
Take a careful inventory of the exterior siding of your house to look for loose pieces or unattached edges. Before a storm get them securing attached to the frame of the house.
5. Look For Yard Debris, Check Fences
Once the exterior of your home is secure, take a look around your yard. Do you have any debris that could fly around and cause damage in a storm?
If you have outdoor furniture before a big storm bring it in. If you have any potted plants, those should come in too before a storm.
If your yard is fenced, check the fence carefully. Look for loose pieces of fencing that might break loose in a strong wind. Make sure gates are tightly secured too.
6. Check Water Drainage and Gutters
If you are in the line of a storm bringing in lots of water, this one is big.
First, check your gutters to make sure they are cleaned out and nothing will prevent them draining water away from your house. Also, check to make sure all your drainage points are cleaned out and nothing will keep the water from backing up into your house.
Finally, you want to be sure that the grade of your yard works in your favor. Does it slope away so water will naturally flow away from your home instead of into it?
7. Trim Trees
Trees can be both a blessing and a curse for homeowners. Of course, there is nothing better than a yard filled with some beautiful mature trees, in good weather that is.
But if you are facing a strong storm like a hurricane or a tornado, trees can potentially be a real issue for damage. Be sure you have a rider on your insurance policy protecting your home from tree damage in the event of a storm.
Maintain your trees by keeping them well trimmed. Remove any dead branches that could go flying in a strong wind.
8. Sump Pump Needs To Be Working
A sump pump is going to be integral in keeping your home from getting water damage. You want to make sure it is in good working order. Also, make sure they drainage from the sump pump is cleaned out so if it tries to pump water, it has a place to go.
Consider what powers your sump pump. If you lose electricity, will your sump pump still work? If it is battery powered, make sure you have the batteries needed to make it work.
9. Working Generator
In addition to potentially running your sump pump, a generator could help your home stay functioning following a storm.
Check your generator regularly to make sure it is in good working order. Make sure you know how to hook it up safely and it has a power source.
Make sure you understand how much power your generator has and what you should use it for in the event it is needed after a storm.
10. Storms Coming? Prepare
Many of the things on this list you need to do before you are in the eye of a bad storm. But if a storm is close, you can still prepare.
Lock windows and doors to secure them. Remove loose screens from windows.
Walk your property and secure any outdoor items that might go flying in a storm. Get rid of any branches laying around in your yard.
Protect Your Home From Storms
Being proactive by evaluating your home and its needs will help to protect your home when it is faced with a bad storm.
Use this list to secure your home, so your home can keep you safe too.
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