Prepare Your Home for Potential Hurricanes with These 6 Steps
Hurricanes are undoubtedly some of the most destructive natural forces found in nature. The powerful wind alone can cause trees and power lines to fall. Worse, they can cause storm surges and heavy rainfall, leading to further damage in areas along their path.
With the degree of destruction that hurricanes cause, it is something you don’t want to experience. But there’s nothing you can do to avoid this storm directly.
What you can do is prepare your home for hurricane season and keep your family safe.
Hurricane season is as menacing as it sounds.
If you’ve heard of Hurricanes Andrew, Katrina, and Irma, you’ll know just how destructive this natural phenomenon can be. You’ll most certainly want to prepare for hurricane season as soon as it comes.
What exactly are hurricanes?
Hurricanes are also called tropical cyclones. They form above tropical or subtropical waters and commonly originate in the Atlantic Basin. However, they can also develop in the central North Pacific Ocean, although less frequently.
Hurricanes cause a series of organized thunderstorms that can be dangerous. When these storms reach category five, winds are at 157 mph or higher. And everyone, will be in danger from flying debris. Such hurricanes can also destroy mobile homes and even frame homes.
Fortunately, hurricanes mostly occur during hurricane season, from June to November. Sure, they can happen at any time of the year, but they are most active during mid-year and before the year ends.
This year (2022), experts predict hurricane season to be above average. So, ensure you’re ready and adequately prepared for hurricane season.
How do you prepare for hurricane season?
Even though hurricanes can be destructive, hurricane preparedness can keep your family safe and prevent severe damage to your property.
So, ensure you prepare for hurricane season well and follow these steps:
Plan ahead
There’s nothing a good plan can’t solve. So, when hurricane season nears, you should be ready with a foolproof plan.
List down all emergency numbers and keep the list accessible. If possible, hang it near the house phone and save the numbers on every family member’s cell phone. Also, prepare an emergency supply kit that you can quickly grab when necessary.
It’s also vital to identify evacuation shelter locations and the fastest route toward them.
If you have a pet, plan for their safety by locating animal shelters and other pet-friendly refuges.
Start gathering emergency supplies
It’s not just during a hurricane that you will need supplies. After the disaster, there might still be power outages and water interruptions, so you should have essential supplies and food on hand.
Stock up on the following items, even though you might not need some of them:
- Food and water
- Medicine and prescriptions
- Flashlight and other light sources
- Power sources, such as batteries, power banks, and generators
- Hygiene kits and personal items
- Safety needs and a fire extinguisher
- Important documents
More importantly, you must keep these supplies easily accessible and packed securely.
Stay updated with the news
Prepare for a hurricane by being informed of the latest news updates. Be aware of any tornado or flood warnings that may arise due to the storm. Also, take note of any downed trees or powerlines that may block potential evacuation routes.
Have your vehicle ready
Sometimes, hurricanes can reach a higher category and become more destructive. When this happens, you need to assess your situation and decide whether you need to evacuate or not. You need to have your vehicle ready for emergency evacuation.
Fill up the tank with gas and keep the vehicles safely covered in the garage. Ensure that a first aid kit and emergency items are already in the vehicle before the storm. Always keep the keys accessible so you can easily grab them when you need to go.
It’s best to make these evacuation decisions before the storm makes landfall to ensure your family’s safety.
Be ready
Discuss your hurricane emergency and evacuation plan with your family and give each member a specific task to do if ever you need to seek shelter elsewhere. Watch for news updates and call experts for advice if someone has special needs.
Prepare your home
Clean the clutter and tidy up your surroundings. Secure bicycles, wagons, grills, gardening items, and other things in your shed or garage. Doing so prevents objects from flying around during the hurricane and injuring anyone.
In addition, you can cover up garage doors and windows with plywood and other similar items to protect them from strong winds. Hence, you avoid glass from shattering.
Work With a Public Adjuster Following a Hurricane to Resolve Damage to Your Home
Hurricane season can be very stressful. Just thinking about the damage that strong winds and heavy rain can cause may give you a headache.
Fortunately, there are ways to prepare for hurricane season, so you won’t have to worry about too much when you find yourself in the middle of a storm.
If your home is damaged by a hurricane, it’s important to work with a public adjuster to ensure your insurance provider doesn’t underpay your claim. At Property Protectors, our experienced public adjusters will work with you and your insurance provider to evaluate the damage to your home and develop a specific amount necessary to cover repairs.
Time is of the essence. Contact our team today for a free consultation for adjustment services following a hurricane.