Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
Get Your Home Hurricane Ready
As the ominous clouds gather and the winds start to pick up, hurricane season looms on the horizon. For those living in hurricane-prone regions, this time of year can be a stressful and nerve-wracking period. But fear not! With the right preparation, you can fortify your home and sail through the stormy season with confidence. In this article, we’ll guide you through essential steps to ensure your home is equipped to handle the tempestuous forces of nature. From shoring up your home’s defenses to stocking up on vital supplies, we’ve got you covered. So, let’s batten down the hatches and jump right into preparing your home for the upcoming hurricane season.
While preparing your home to protect against hurricane damage is undoubtedly an expense, you can do it in stages.
- Replace gravel or rock landscaping materials with a fire-resistant material which is lighter and won’t cause as much harm.
- Cut weak branches and trees that could fall on your house and keep shrubbery trimmed.
- Install storm shutters to protect your windows from breakage. Alternately, fit plywood panels to your windows, which can be nailed to window frames when a storm approaches. Read about one survivor’s story with storm shutters at https://www.fema.gov/case-study/storm-shutters-create-feeling-security
- Make sure exterior doors are hurricane proof and have at least three hinges and a deadbolt lock that is at least one inch long.
- Sliding glass doors should be made of tempered glass and, during a storm, covered with shutters or plywood. These types of doors are more vulnerable to wind damage than most other doors.
- Replace old garage doors and tracks with a door that is approved for both wind pressure and impact protection. Remember, the garage door is the most vulnerable part of the home, so it must be able to withstand hurricane-force winds. Wind coming into your home through an opening this large pose grave problems for the rest of your home—especially your roof.
- Seal outside wall openings such as vents, outdoor electrical outlets, garden hose bibs and locations where cables or pipes go through the wall. Use a high-quality urethane-based caulk to prevent water penetration.
- If you live in a mobile home, make sure you know how to secure it against high winds and be sure to review your mobile home insurance policy. Find out more at https://www.iii.org/article/mobile-home-insurance. Reminder: mobile homes are not safe in high winds, and you will need to move to a safer place before a storm hits. Always follow the advice of your local community officials.
- If you have a boat on a trailer, know how to anchor the trailer to the ground or house—and review your boat insurance policy. Find out more at https://www.iii.org/article/boat-insurance-and-safety.
