With the hurricane season upon us again, it’s high time to review some helpful tips on home storm preparation. Your house is probably your biggest investment; ensuring you have preventative measures in place as we enter the storm season can go a long way to protecting your home from the damage brought about by natural disasters.

Without further ado, here are eight practical and affordable ways to prepare your home for the storm season:

Clean Your Gutters And Drains

The first places you may want to look at during your storm preparation process are your gutters, downspouts and drains. They play a crucial role in directing rainwater from your roof and away from your house, so it’s essential to ensure they’re free from leaves, debris, and other obstructions.

A visual inspection of these roofing components before a storm can help put your mind at ease, knowing that you’ve done your due diligence in fending off roof leaks and basement flooding.

Conduct the Necessary Roof Repairs

It’s best to enlist roof repairs and maintenance regularly to ensure your roof remains stable and in good condition. Getting the cracked or missing shingles on your roof repaired before upcoming storms can help you prevent wind and water from getting through the structure and wreaking havoc inside your home.

Create Your Emergency Supply Kit

A major storm can easily cut off the power and water supply in your area. On top of that, roads can also become flooded or blocked. While no one wants to think these situations can happen to them, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Stocking up on necessities that can last for at least three days is a smart move and must be at the top of your home storm preparation tips. This will help you be more comfortable with the essentials while the storm rages on outside.

Items to stock up on should include:

• Non-perishable food and bottled water
• First-aid kits, emergency medical supplies, and other necessary medications
• Flashlights with spare batteries
• Blankets
• Clothing and toiletries
• Essentials for your pet

Aside from these essentials, you may also add your personal identification and cash to your emergency kit. Important documents such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, wills, insurance policies and other files must be stored in secure storage, like a safety deposit box in your home.

Protect Your Windows

Your glass windows are among the most vulnerable parts of your home, especially in extreme natural disasters like hurricanes. High winds and flying heavy debris can not only send shattered glass flying everywhere but also introduce extensive and expensive damage to your interior.

Nailing pieces of plywood to the outside window frames is an affordable way to protect your windows from flying debris — and yourself from pieces of broken glass. Many property restoration companies can perform this service for you so you don’t have to keep a stock of plywood during storm season.

Cover Your Air Conditioner

During a storm, your outdoor air conditioning unit will be exposed to high winds, heavy rains, and airborne projectiles that can enter it and cause all kinds of damage. An easy and effective solution for this is to invest in a manufacturer-approved protective cover.

Avoiding tarps, garbage bags, and other DIY solutions and getting the proper material may seem pricey at first. However, it’s a worthwhile investment that effectively wards off unwanted debris and moisture that can negatively affect your unit.

Clear Your Yard

Another affordable home storm preparation tip you can follow right now is to clear your yard of anything that can be blown around during the storm. Patio furniture, grills, potted plants, bikes, and other items must be moved indoors. On the other hand, outdoor sculptures like garden gnomes can be secured using burlap or ropes.

While you’re at it, having nearby trees and shrubs evaluated and trimmed is also a good idea. Strong winds can dislodge branches, uproot healthy trees, and cause larger accidents, so securing the surrounding greenery increases the chances of your home — and your trees — surviving the storm.

Listen to the Authorities

The authorities and weather institutions are there to ensure your health and safety, so it’s always best to listen to and take their suggestions seriously, especially when they’re telling you to evacuate. Trying to protect your property by staying home is not worth risking your life.

If you need to evacuate, unplug all appliances, turn off your utilities, and grab only what you need.

If you’ve not been asked to evacuate, listen to updates about the hurricane or storm on the radio, TV, or internet. It’s also recommended to stay inside and away from windows to avoid injuries from broken glass or flying debris. Ultimately, have your emergency supply kit easily accessible so you can leave anytime, especially if you have been ordered to evacuate.

Getting Back to Normal

It’s never easy to prepare for (let alone imagine) overwhelming property damage after a catastrophic storm. However, anticipating the worst-case scenario will help you and your family pave the way to getting back to normal, no matter what happens after the disaster.

Once you have checked off all the home storm preparation tasks listed above, it’s time to plan ahead by identifying the professionals you might need to contact once the storm has passed. For example, knowing a reputable storm recovery team in your area can give you peace of mind knowing you have someone who can help you get things back to normal.

Facing a major storm can leave you feeling worried about your property and your loved ones’ safety. And while these natural disasters can’t be prevented, following the storm preparation tips above can significantly minimize the blows your home will receive. But more importantly, knowing who to turn to after a disaster grants you the assurance that no matter what tomorrow brings, you can get the help you need to restore your property.

If you’re looking for 24/7 flood damage cleanup and storm recovery for your home or business, don’t hesitate to call Restoration 1 now. Our restoration experts are here to help you regain a sense of normalcy during this stressful time.