Did you know that the Congressional Budget Office estimates that hurricanes cause $28 billion in damages each year?
If you’re a homeowner, knowing what to do during a hurricane can save you thousands of dollars. Aside from avoiding expensive damages, hurricane preparedness can also give you peace of mind during such a stressful event.
Want to learn the best ways to protect your home from a hurricane? Keep reading for the top 5 tips.
1. What to Do First: Secure Your Yard
One of the most overlooked steps of how to prepare for a hurricane is to secure the outside of your home. Before the harsh winds arrive, take a walk around your home and look for any objects that could become projectiles and cause damage.
Take the time to move potted plants indoors and store chairs, tables, and other lightweight objects in your garage. This tip is especially important if you have a screened-in patio. The last thing you’d want is for any flying objects to tear through your screens.
2. What to Do During a Hurricane to Protect Your Windows: Board Up
There’s a good reason why hardware stores are busy after a hurricane warning is announced. Everyone goes there to stock up on plywood.
In order to protect your windows and sliding glass doors, they need a hard cover. Removing objects from your yard is the best way to prevent anything from breaking your window, but wooden barriers can give you extra security.
3. Strap Down Your Roof
Before hurricane season comes, it’s important to hire a professional to inspect your roofing. If you need Florida roofing, the sooner you can upgrade or repair, the better. A leaky roof is bad enough, but a weakened roof threatens the structure of the rest of your home.
If your roof is up to date, there are extra measures you can take to prevent any damages. Be sure to purchase hurricane straps, clips, or ties to lock the roof down.
4. A Hurricane-Proof House Has a Barricaded Perimeter
Before you head out to stock up on hurricane survival supplies, check your local news to see if any parks are offering free sandbags. If you can surround the perimeter of your home with sandbags, you can help prevent flooding.
Don’t have access to sandbags? Don’t worry. While you’re out shopping, grab a box of heavy-duty garbage bags. Believe it or not, filling garbage bags with water is a great way to keep floodwater outdoors.
5. Don’t Forget Electronics When Preparing for a Hurricane
Not only are electronics expensive, but blown fuses can cause dangerous house fires. During a hurricane, emergency vehicles won’t be able to get to you. This is why hurricane preparedness is so serious.
The last important step you should do before a hurricane arrives is to either unplug your electronics or plug them into a surge protector.
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