If you live in a region where hurricanes and tropical storms are common, you already know how crucial it is to be prepared. Keeping a watchful eye on news coverage and government warnings during hurricanes is an important element of disaster preparedness. However, hurricane preparedness entails much more than merely being aware.
Let’s take a quick look at some easy steps that can help you protect your home and property from hurricanes.
1. Install Surge Protection
During a hurricane, power surges can occur suddenly, causing havoc to your appliances and gadgets. To help safeguard your property or home, install a power surge protector in your electrical panel and utilize power strips with a built-in surge protector. You might need a power source to safeguard your heating and cooling system.
2. Remove Debris
While you may not be able to clear your entire neighborhood, everything that may become an airborne projectile should be removed or secured. You should clear lawn equipment, trampoline, and other heavy tools.
Cutting low-hanging branches, unstable shrubs, and trees can help you avoid serious injury or property damage.
3. Secure your doors with a heavy-duty bolt
Purchase a bolt kit from a hardware shop if you believe you need extra protection for your home door. They are simple to install and will greatly improve the security of the tops and bottoms of your doors. It’s critical to keep the air out of your home, and windows and doors are vulnerable points in your home’s storm defense.
4. Upgrade Your Doors and Windows
Impact-resistant windows and doors assist to reinforce your home’s weakest point. These unique doors and windows can resist gusts of up to 200 mph, as well as the missiles hurled at your home by the strong blowing winds. D you want to know the results? Less havoc and cleaning.
If you’re looking to update your home’s doors and windows or looking to add custom doors and windows to be hurricane resistant, East Coast is a great place to start.
5. Get a Sump Pump
Getting a Sump Pump might not sound flashy but it’s required. Water damage should be prevented at all costs. Make sure your sump pump is operating correctly and that you have backup battery power once you have installed it properly.
Another crucial step is to double-check whether or not your sump pump is debris-free. If your sump pump is blocked, it won’t be able to drain water quickly enough to avoid damage, or the engine will burn out and stop operating when you need it the most.
6. Shutter all the Windows
This may be essential if a large hurricane with strong winds is coming. Make sure the shutters are impact-resistant and capable of withstanding flying debris at speeds of at least 100 miles per hour. If you want to preserve your windows frame undamaged, don’t mount the shutters to it when you install them. Mount to the wall surrounding the windows instead.
7. Maintain Your Roof
Install flashing around your chimney and skylights to hold loose shingles and ensure they’re properly sealed. Category one storms have winds ranging from 74 to 95 miles per hour, which can take off your roof if it’s not properly attached. Category 5 hurricane wind speed ranges from 157 miles per hour and over which can damage your entire roof.
Your entire roof will most certainly need to be replaced if you notice curling shingles, bare patches, broken shingles, missing shingles, or leaks.
8. Bring all Furniture Inside
If you don’t want your furniture flying in the sky, we would suggest you bring them inside. Whether your furniture is big or small, it needs to come inside. If you don’t do so, the furniture might slam your window or something. Ask your neighbors to do the same thing as well.
9. Cover Your AC
You may also want to safeguard your outdoor air conditioning unit from flying debris and projectiles, which can cause harm if they are lodged in the unit. We advise against adopting a do-it-yourself solution like a tarp or garbage bag, which might violate your guarantee and retain moisture inside.
10. Review Your Insurance Policy
You should examine your current insurance coverage to ensure that your most precious possessions are protected in the event of damage or loss. You should also make sure your policy covers flood insurance since any house in a storm-prone location might benefit from it.
There are numerous easy modifications you can make to your house before or after a major hurricane to reduce hazards during the next hurricane. If you’re looking to update the doors and windows of your home, contact us at 954-545-0997 or contact us via our online form.
