SERVPRO Tips: Preparing Your Home For Storms

9/10/2020 (Permalink)

Preventative measures are a must, especially when it comes to storms. Storm season is March through June. During this three-month period, it’s vital you are prepared at all times. The team at SERVPRO encourages safety. We want you to always be prepared for any storm damage. Preparation is key. Here are 5 tips to prepare your home for storms. 

Seal Your Roof 

Storms can be highly unpredictable. You never know the severity of damage it can cause to your home, your belongings, your roof. It’s incumbent on you to hire a professional to reinforce your roof well before strong winds hit. A professional can seal your roof to help protect it from those strong storms. According to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), “seal your roof deck using “peel and stick” tape along your roof seams, or a “peel and stick” membrane over the entire roof deck, or apply polyurethane foam.” If you invest in this now, this can save you hundreds, perhaps thousands, in the future. 

Secure Your Windows & Doors

Your home’s windows and doors can be damaged when high winds from storms strike. Secure all windows and doors. When it comes to your doors, here are some things to check for: 

• Hinges
• Screws missing 
• Door threshold 

According to Nationwide, “be sure the door threshold is tightly screwed into your house and not just the door frame. You may want to consider installing new wind-resistant doors with a high design pressure (DP) rating. The DP rating is a measure of the level of wind force a door system can withstand without failing.” Do you know if you live in a region that’s prone to hurricanes and storms? It’s encouraged that you know this information, especially for preparation purposes. Here are the top five cities most vulnerable to hurricanes. If you live in one of those areas or an area that is prone to these types of storms, consider installing impact-resistant windows. These windows are specifically designed for these very purposes: to withstand forceful windows.   

Secure Fences

When strong winds hit your home, it can strike down fences and other objects that can cause more damage to your residential property. Before this happens, secure fences to minimize the risk of further damage to other objects or worse -- people. When investing in a home -- or if you’re replacing a fence -- factor in the strength and resilience of your fence. Weigh all your options, and make an educated decision. Don’t base your decision to buy a fence on how inexpensive it is. Because that factor alone can be much more expensive for you in the long-term, especially if a storm damages it and your home.      

Create a Family Emergency Plan 

With any storm, preparation is key. Now -- not then -- is the time for you to create a family emergency plan so you. Help protect all members of your family members -- including your pets. Make sure they are well-equipped when a storm strikes. A family emergency plan can help save lives. Here are just a few items to include: 

• Water
• Food 
• Batteries
• Communication plan
• Phone and/or walkie talkies (some form of communication device)
• First Aid Kit
• Emergency supplies
• Important phone numbers 

Anchor Loose Objects 

If objects, such as grills, bikes, deck furniture, trash cans, etc. are loose when a storm hits your residential property, it can cause windows to break, and damage to your vehicle, your home, or a human being. It’s encouraged to anchor loose objects to help minimize the risk of outdoor threats. By adding shrubs of varying lengths, fences, and trees in a row are ways to help block high winds. Utilizing landscaping and yard objects can be extremely beneficial.   

So give us a call if storms damage your property! We are faster to any disaster and are here to help get you back to "Like it never even happened."