Prepare For A Storm
You never know exactly when disaster will strike. Protect your home with these storm preparation tips.
1. Maintain Your Property and Yard
With bad weather comes strong wind. A huge wind gust can pick up even larger items and cause damage to your home's windows, doors, siding and roof. Keep a tidy yard when there is a storm in the forecast.
2. Clean Your Gutters, Downspouts and Drains On A Regular Routine
It is important to keep your gutters and downspouts clear as blockages can cause the water to overflow under the eaves into the roof cavity. Clear leaves from the valleys of your roof as these will make their way into the gutters in heavy rain. Keep the drains around your property clear to help surface water move away and prevent water from pooling and entering your property.
3. Trim Tree Branches From Away Of Your House
Keep an eye on your yard's trees as they can easily overgrow your property. Hire a licensed arborist to keep your tree branches away from your house. During severe weather, a fallen limb or tree can cause devastating damage to your home.
4. Fix Any Damage To Your Roof
Your roof should be checked every year (or after major events such as hail storms) for signs of damage. Fix any cracked, broken or displaced shingles. Damaged roof sheeting may need to be patched or replaced. Check inside your roof space. Working on a roof can be quite dangerous, so we advise to always hire a licensed expert roofing contractor for any roof repairs and inspections.
5. Confirm Your Home Insurance Is Up To Date and Adequate
Did you pay the insurance bill this month? Do you have enough coverage for your home? These are questions you must ask yourself when considering a severe weather event. Contact your insurance agent to verify that you're covered when it comes to things like fallen trees, flash flooding and severe winds or hail storms.
6. Have an Emergency Plan and Emergency Kit
Last but not least, you need an emergency plan for you and your family. Consider where you'll go if you lose power or your home becomes uninhabitable, who you should contact if disaster strikes and what you need from your home if you can no longer stay there. Also always keep an emergency kit available - flashlights, batteries, essential medications, important documents and your emergency plan.