How To Prepare Your Home For Storm Season
There is nothing more important than the people you love when it comes to an emergency. All the materialistic things can be replaced with time. When you and your loved ones find yourself in an emergency situation, safety is the priority. Here are tips to keep your family and your home safe during a storm.
Be Prepared
If you have become aware that a storm is heading your way, it is best to have a plan set in place. Food and water should be a priority. There should be a stock of enough food and water for each person to last at least three to seven days if the elements prevent anyone from reaching a store. Other items that will come in handy are batteries, flashlights, blankets, and first aid kits.
Important Documents and Paperwork
We often take for granted the security our homes provide us. While things are quiet, it would be an excellent time to secure any social security cards, IDs, birth certificates, or anything important.
Repair / Reinforce
This is a crucial step in preparing for a storm. This allows you to minimize damage or lose any exterior assets. Take the time to scan your property and tie down and secure your belongings to avoid damage to them. Once the storm hits, any loose items can become very dangerous or even fatal. The exterior of your home is essential to check during this time. Before storm season, an inspection can save you time and disaster.
Trees
The trees in your yard can be a safety issue. Old rotted trees and branches can quickly come loose with high winds and turn into projectiles. Similar to the exterior of your home, a yearly inspection of your trees should take place as well. Total tree removal or trimming can save your home or someone’s life.
Utilities
Water and electricity are not a good mixture. Both of them combined after flooding can turn into an accident waiting to happen. Knowing how to turn off your home’s utilities is essential. It is not something you need to do every time a dark cloud rolls around but can be the difference in minimizing damage inside the home.
Prepare Your Windows
With a storm rolling in towards your location, it is vital to understand where you will be sheltering and where the windows are located. You will want to steer clear of the windows as high winds and elements beat on the glass to avoid cuts or injuries. A good tip for prepping your windows for the forces they may see during the storm season is adding storm windows or even hurricane shutters. Or you can choose to go with the plywood method, which all you will need is your plywood, a hammer, and nails. If none of these are viable options for you, the last resort can be duct-taping an x pattern over your window. This will help slow / stop the glass if the windows break.
Contact Soil-Away
If you have experienced any damages from a recent storm, contact the storm remediation experts today! For more information about storm damages or to get in touch, give us a call at 603-641-6555 or fill out our online contact form.
