Hurricane season has officially begun and will drag on through November. NOAA recently released predictions for an “above-normal Atlantic hurricane season”. The outlook they released states we have a 60% chance to see more activity than a normal year. If you live in a potential hurricane zone, now would be a great time to make sure your home is ready, and even more importantly, that you and your family are ready. Take a look at some of the things you can do now to be more prepared for an active hurricane season.
EVALUATE YOUR POLICIES
Make sure your insurance policies are up-to-date and will cover the full cost of a rebuild. You should also consider adding flood insurance to your policy. Go over your policy from top to bottom to make sure in the event of minor to severe damage, you will be covered. This would also be a good time to evaluate your valuables and belongings to make sure you have a current list of what you would need to replace.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR ROOF
If you live in a hurricane zone, you probably already give special attention to your roof. In case you haven’t, here is your reminder to make sure your roof is sealed and secure. You can use waterproof tape to seal the seams and purchase roof straps to secure your roof from your attic access. If your budget allows, hire a roofing professional to come out and inspect your roof. They will be able to tell you if there is any need for further upgrades or maintenance and will be able to give you a pricing estimate.
SEAL IT UP
Over time, the seals around windows and doors can become worn down and start to do a bad job at keeping out the elements. You can find tutorials on Youtube that will teach you to fix these yourself if you do not want to hire someone to do it for you. Take the time to go around and inspect your home looking for holes or cracks that may need to be filled and sealed. Bonus: this will help your energy bills year-round.
SECURE IT
You shouldn’t have anything laying around outdoors that you wouldn’t want to lose or that could become a projectile in high winds. Secure your outdoor items or bring them in if you have heavy storms enter your area. Other home features like your porch, carport, and garage doors should be inspected to make sure they are anchored and secure.
HAVE A PLAN
Sit down with your family and make a plan for what you will do if you enter a hurricane watch or warning. Discuss evacuation routes and make sure everyone has a disaster bag packed with essentials. The Red Cross has a very easy to follow action plan that you can review that covers what you should do before, during, and after a hurricane. You could print your plan and place it in an accessible area of the home.
We hope you all stay safe and healthy this summer. If you have any other preparedness tips, we’d love for you to stop by our Zippy Shell Facebook Page and share with our online community. We look forward to hearing from you.