How to Protect Your House from a Hurricane – Prevent Storm Damage
Flooding, structural destruction and water damage are the typical scenarios for a post-hurricane environment. Yet, there are a few essential precautions you can take in order to prevent these scenarios and any excessive storm damage restorations. It's crucial to do what you can to defend your house from a hurricane and to keep your loved ones and your neighbors safe. Below is a list of practices to keep in mind while securing your house against the elements.Hurricane Planning Checklist
- Garage Door – If your house has a garage, this might be one of the first things to prep. Strong winds can penetrate the typical residential garage door because they're not installed with the extra support. What can happen is the wind will produce a positive push inside your garage, and the wind outside of it causes a negative pull. When this occurs, your garage and roof will undergo a lot of pressure because of this tug-of-war situation. To avoid a major storm damage restoration, you can purchase braces that will help your garage door combat hurricane conditions. This is the most trustworthy method, but if you don't have the time to install a kit, then you can use your automobile to help brace your garage door.
- Windows and Doors – Windows and doors are another entry-point for a storm to cause disruption. Defective windows will allow wind and rain to move through your home, and this can lead to water damage problems. When a storm is imminent, make sure you lock and secure your windows. If you have storm shutters, make sure they are closed and locked, but if you don't have storm shutters, you can board up your windows to keep possible destruction out of your residence. Also, keep in mind that placing masking tape on your windows doesn't do anything to secure them. Concerning your doors, lock the deadbolts or any other locking mechanisms to verify they don't pop open during strong winds.
- Roof – Your roof acts as a primary defense against the elements, and that's why it's important to make sure it's prepared for hurricane season. Locate any loose shingles and fix them with roofing concrete. You'll also want irrigation for the strong rains, so clear out your gutters so the water doesn't accumulate on your roof. You can then find any wires that are entering into your home and seal off any threatening gaps to block water damage from happening. At last, assess whether it's critical to fasten your roof with hurricane straps.
- Your Property – It's essential to clear your lawn of any loose items like garden accessories, patio furniture and children's toys. If it can be lifted from a strong wind storm, then clear it out and put it in a safe area so it doesn't cause damage to your home and others' around you. Furthermore, check your trees and shrubbery for any dangling or dead limbs and trim them if necessary.
- Car – When you're concerned about protecting your home from a hurricane, it's easy to forget about your automobile. Make sure that you have a full tank of gas, that your tires are in good condition, the windows are sealed and that your windshield wipers are good. If you have to park on the street, you'll want to make sure that you're not parked under trees or in an area that is prone to floods.
