Common Sense Hurricane Preparation for Your Home
Hurricane season kicked off in June and will last through the end of November. If you live in a coastal area, then you need to know how to prep your home to prevent costly damage.
To prevent structural damage to your home, focus on your windows, doors, roof and garage. The following are a few tip to help you prepare:
1. Cover your doors and windows with 5/8-inch marine plywood that is cut to fit over the entire frame. Taping your windows won’t prevent hurricane damage. You can also think about buying permanent storm shutters if you live in a hurricane-prone area.
2. Use straps or clips to secure your roof to the top of your home’s frame.
3. Talk to a professional about reinforcing your garage door well before a hurricane is in the forecast. Ask the contractor to assess the wind load requirement that your door should be able to bear. A garage door’s counterbalance system is complicated, so this isn’t a DIY project.
Also, follow these additional safety tips:
Trim your trees and shrubs so that they’ll be better able to resist wind.
Clear out your gutters and downspouts so that water doesn’t pool around your foundation.
Bring in any outdoor items that aren’t tied down. These items may include outdoor furniture, garbage cans, and lawn decorations.
Turn off your propane tanks. If local authorities instruct you to turn off other utilities, then follow their directions.
- Have fresh water on-hand. Fill your bathtub and other containers before the storm strikes.
Thanks to CoreBurn for the picture of a hurricane on a radar screen.