When a hurricane is brewing off the coast, you know that there is a good chance that at some point it will make landfall and you will have to deal with whatever nature is going to dish out. Granted, sometimes a storm will simply dissipate before it comes ashore, while at other times it will come down with a vengeance and bring flooding, rain, tornadoes and other natural disasters. Is your home ready to withstand the onslaught? 

Many times home owners may think their homes are ready – but are you ready when it comes to your home? Here are some important tips for securing your home before a hurricane.

First and foremost is flood insurance.  When a hurricane hits, flooding at the coastline as well as inland is a given.  No matter how big or small the anticipated floods, even a small flood in your home can cause thousands of dollars of damage. If you are not protected against this facet of the disaster, you will find yourself soon deep in debt.  Go ahead and check out your insurance policies to make sure that you are protected.

Check your landscape.  If you have dead trees on your property, or if some of your trees have dead limbs, you will want to cut them down to avoid having them come crashing through your roof or windows in case of a hurricane. So go ahead and maintain your landscape properly, especially as you are entering hurricane season.

Take a look at your roof.  During a hurricane your roof will take an unprecedented beating, and it is not surprising to see a large number of roof shingles missing in the aftermath of the storm. Generally speaking, this is due to the fact that the shingles are not properly anchored to the underlying materials or one another.  A licensed roofer should be able to take a good look at your roof and let you know what the state of the roof is.  If it looks like you need to anchor these shingles, the contractor will be able to help you.  If you are a savvy do-it-yourselfer, you might consider arming yourself with a caulking gun and some asphalt cement to glue down the shingles.

Your entry door is another weak point in your home.  It is imperative that you secure it properly to prevent the storm from simply breaking it open.  Thus, if you need to evacuate, you stand a good chance of returning to your home without finding it looted. To this end, your door should have three hinges, as well as a bottom and a top bolt.  The deadbolt in the middle should be at least one inch in length, although a longer bolt would be preferable.

You probably know that you will need to protect your windows as well as your glass doors. This can be easily and cost effectively done simply by installing impact resistant shutters or panels made from sturdy plywood.  This will keep the chances of returning home to find all your windows smashed in, glass shards in all your carpets, and various objects the storm may have hurled at your home to a minimum.

Have sandbags available if you are living in a floodplain. As the hurricane draws closer, it is a good idea to have them filled and ready to go, so as to keep floodwaters out of your home and garage.

As you can see, with a little bit of know-how, you will be able to protect your home from the ravages of a hurricane, or at least give yourself better odds to coming home to a house that has the minimum amount of damage possible.

 

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