How to Safeguard Your Home from a Hurricane – Prevent Storm Damage

Flooding, structural destruction and water damage are the common cases for a post-hurricane environment. Nevertheless, there are some fundamental approaches you can execute in order to avoid these scenarios and any major storm damage repairs. It’s important to do what you can to defend your house from a hurricane and to keep your loved ones and your neighbors safe. Listed below are methods to keep in mind while defending your residence against Mother Nature.

Essential Approaches in Hurricane Preparation

  • Garage Door – Believe it or not, your garage is actually one of the more susceptible places when it comes to heavy weather conditions such as hurricanes. The logic behind it: the average garage door is not reinforced and heavy winds can get into the garage. When this occurs, a positive push generates inside the garage, and as the winds are churning above your structure, this creates a negative pull. With the push-pull combo, this can put a lot of stress on your roof and ultimately it could tear it off your garage. To avoid this from taking place, the best method is to buy a kit that braces your garage door. Although, if time isn’t on your side to install a kit, then you can utilize your automobile to support your garage door.
  • Windows and Doors – Broken windows don’t only allow the rain to get into your home, but the wind that blows through can increase the pressure under your roof, which can lead to excessive damage to your structure. Storm shutters are an effective method to protect your residence during a storm. When a storm is on its way, make sure the latches on your shutters are working properly and you may want to think about installing additional locks for added measure. You can also cover your windows with OSB if you don’t have shutters, but it’s important to note that putting masking tape on your windows won’t do anything in a heavy storm. When your windows are protected, move to your doors next. Make sure they’re stable and that the deadbolts are in working order.
  • Roof – Examining your roof is crucial before a hurricane passes through your location, and it can prevent property damage and give you peace-of-mind. A good beginning point is to locate damaged shingles and use some roofing cement to fix them. Next, check to see if there are exposed gaps where any wiring is coming into your home and seal them. This can block water from coming into your residence. You might want to think about obtaining hurricane straps to make sure your roof is secure too. Another thing to do is unclog your gutters so there’s proper irrigation for the heavy rains.
  • Your Property – The outside of your property can be a primary threat when a hurricane approaches. Any loose items could be lifted from the extreme wind and be thrown into your home and your neighbor’s as well. Walk around your property and move any patio furniture, BBQs, garden accessories and children’s toys to a location out of harm’s way. Another thing you need to do is remove any dangling or dead limbs from your shrubs and trees.
  • Car – When you’re worried about safeguarding your residence from a hurricane, it’s easy to forget about your car. Ensure that you have a full tank of gas, that your tires are in good condition, the windows are up and that your windshield wipers are good. If you have to park on the street, you’ll want to check that you’re not parked under trees or in a location that is vulnerable to floods.

Call a Local Paul Davis Franchise Today

Paul Davis offers storm damage restoration services, so if your residence has been damaged by a hurricane, reach out to our professional team. Unfortunately, you can only do so much preparation to protect your property from Mother Nature. We can restore your property back to normal, and we work with a range of insurance agencies. We can help you examine what’s covered with your insurance. For a Paul Davis franchise near you, reach out to us at (410) 730-7260.