Hurricane season is just getting underway. Are you ready for the next big storm?
Immediate actions like clearing debris from your yard, securing windows and doors, and cleaning gutters can help prevent major hurricane damage to your property. You can do it even this weekend.
On the other hand, larger home projects, such as installing impact-resistant windows or reinforcing the roof, are also worth the investment in the long run.
Here’s what you need to know to prepare for the next big storm so you don’t get caught by surprise.
Quick Fix: What you can do now to prepare for a storm
You usually only have a day or two to prepare before the National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane watch or warning for your area. Fortunately, there are some precautions you can take right away to ensure you’re prepared when a storm hits.
make windows and doors safe
Secure windows and doors to prevent debris from flying into the glass. Broken windows can cause severe wind and water damage, and in severe cases, a sudden change in air pressure can cause your roof to blow off.
When preparing, make sure you have properly secured glass windows and doors rather than relying on makeshift solutions. “Putting a big ‘X’ on a window does little to protect it from wind and flying debris,” says Joanne Carmody, vice president of disaster management at Travelers Insurance.
Instead, she recommends installing permanent shutters or boarding up windows with marine plywood cut to fit the window frame.
Clean the garden and eliminate projectiles
Unsecured outdoor furniture, trampolines, and other loose items can become airborne during a hurricane and cause damage to you or your neighbor’s home. Bring it indoors or secure it.
Also, check to see if there are any branches or limbs of dead trees overhanging your property and have them removed so that there is no danger of them falling onto your property.
Cleaning gutters and checking drainage
Cleaning your gutters and making sure your drainage system is working properly is an important but often overlooked step when preparing for a storm.
“Clogged gutters, clogged outdoor drains, damaged downspouts, and sump pumps that aren’t working properly can all cause significant water damage during heavy rains,” Carmody says.
Understand your insurance coverage and documentation
If your home is damaged in a hurricane, the insurance process can be complicated. One way to speed up the process is to take photos or videos of each room in your home beforehand, including your valuables and the exterior of your home. This makes it easier to verify insurance claims and ensure you receive reimbursement in the event of damage. Homeowners can also make sure their homeowners insurance is up to date and review their coverage. This is because many standard insurance policies do not cover floods or some types of water damage.
Prepare emergency supplies and create a plan
If you need to leave your home during a hurricane, talk to your family about where you will go. “Familiarize yourself with your county’s evacuation plan and know your evacuation zones, designated routes, and evacuation locations,” said Abby Bouchard, vice president of insurance broker and client advisor at Marsh McLennan Agency.
Filling up your car’s tank with gas and having an emergency kit with essentials like bottled water, a flashlight, and non-perishable food can also be helpful if you need to leave on short notice.
Long-term upgrades to protect your home
Upgrading the structure of your home’s roof, windows, and drainage system can provide long-term storm protection and prevent serious damage in the future.
“Preparing your home for severe weather should be viewed as a long-term investment,” says Bouchard. “In fact, some insurance companies are offering incentives to homeowners who take steps to harden their homes.”
Reinforce or replace the roof
“Roofs can become very vulnerable, with shingles blown off, flying branches impaling the roof, or the entire roof blown off,” says Andre Kazimierski, co-owner of HomeHero Roofing. He explains that the roof is one of the parts of the home most commonly damaged after a hurricane or high winds. Kazimierski recommends replacing the roof with a more durable material, such as metal. Other reinforcements, such as adding hurricane straps to rafters, modifying soffits, and reinforcing roof trusses, can further reduce the risk of structural damage.
Even if you don’t have the ability to complete a major roof repair or replacement, you can minimize damage by securing loose shingles before the storm hits.
Upgrade your windows, doors and garage
Windows and doors can be vulnerable areas in your home during a storm. “Protect the openings,” says Phil Adkins, president of Adkins & Sons, a southeast Michigan-based window replacement company. “Storms cause the most damage when they enter a home. Most damage begins with broken windows and doors.”
One option to strengthen your windows and doors is to install impact-resistant hurricane windows. “Regular windows can break, hurricane windows can crack, but they stick together,” Adkins said. You can also install shutters on your existing windows.
Garage doors are another common vulnerability. “It’s the largest opening in your home and often the weakest,” Adkins says. “A broken garage door is one of the quickest ways to lose your roof completely.” You can reinforce it with a hurricane brace kit or by upgrading to a wind-resistant door.
conclusion
While major upgrades like roof and storm window upgrades provide long-term protection in the event of a hurricane, there are some steps you can take today to prepare for your next big storm. Start by planning, securing windows and projectile protection, and reviewing your homeowners insurance.
“Preparing before a hurricane can have a huge impact on how well you weather the storm and your recovery afterward,” Carmody says.
