Officially, the hurricane season begins on June 1 and ends on November 30. Hurricanes are powerful and unpredictable storms that may result in immense damages within their own path. To remain secure and protect your property in a hurricane, preparedness is key. Check out how to get ready for hurricanes and things to do during and after one.
Hurricane Preparedness Tips
Before the Hurricane
- Produce an emergency kit.
- Learn your area’s flooding risk and community hurricane evacuation routes. Know the geographical area you live in.
- Create a household evacuation plan. Decide on a meeting place for your family and paths to arrive. Plan how to get in touch with your family if separated. Plan where you’ll go if you must evacuate, like a shelter.
- In case you don’t have flood insurance, get one today. Frequent homeowners insurance policies don’t cover flood damage.
- Learn whether your premises is flood-prone due to its elevation level.
- Store copies of significant files, such as evidence of possession of any property on your emergency kit.
- Back up the information on your electronics to make sure it is protected if your computer or other apparatus are damaged during the hurricane.
Secure Your Home:
- Secure your own roof. Make your roofing and frames stronger by installing reinforcements, such as straps or clips. Additionally, secure loose shingles with heavy-duty glue and seal around your house’s chimney or vent pipes to keep water out.
- Maintain gutters and downspouts. Wash your gutters and downspouts regularly to prevent clogs. These could cause water damage to your house when the rain begins to pour. Additionally, make sure your gutters are powerful and not sagging.
- Secure your windows. Strong winds can shatter your windows, leaving your home vulnerable. The perfect way to secure your windows is to set up permanent storm shutters, which may be made of steel, aluminum, and other substances. Installing plywood is also a good shield for your windows. However, avoid taping as it doesn’t prevent glass from breaking.
- Caulk your home. Caulking is a fast way to waterproof your house and reinforce vulnerable areas. Caulk around your windows and doors, the borders of your house, and around chimneys and other roof penetrations.
- Insulate the exterior first floor walls with rigid foam or install plastic sheeting. It will not stop all the water from getting in, but the majority of the silt is going to be kept out.
- Reinforce your garage. To make it withstand powerful winds, so secure your garage door with a brace kit ranked for storm and hurricane winds. Other ways to fortify your garage door are installing a metal pole system or covering the door with metal panels, fabric screen, or 5/8-inch plywood.
- Trim trees and shrubs. Loose branches in your yard (and neighborhood) could be struck by powerful winds through a storm, damaging your house. So cut those dead or loose branches to safeguard your property.
- Tie down and protected anything that could be swept up by slopes, such as potted plants, lawn furniture, and pet homes. As you need to unplug electrical apparatus during a powerful storm, then it is best to also buy a surge protector. It prevents damage to your apparatus in case the power goes out.
- Move valuables to a higher floor. As electronics and appliances are prone to water damage, move them to a higher floor. If you can not, at least lift them off the floor on concrete blocks.
- Use sandbags if a storm is hours from coming. Pile up sandbags at least two feet as an efficient barricade against floodwaters. If you do not have sandbags, place heavy-duty garbage bags — stuffed one-third of the way with water — around your house doors. If you are going to evacuate, inventory your vehicle with emergency supplies.
- Charge your cell phone to have a complete battery when the power goes out.
- Switch your fridge into the coldest setting so that food lasts longer through a power outage.
- Be alert for the most recent weather updates and emergency instructions.
Throughout the Hurricane
- If police advise or order one to evacuate your place, consider your emergency kit and leave immediately. Strictly follow posted evacuation routes and do not try to take shortcuts.
- If you’re outside along with the storm tactics, get indoors whenever possible to avoid being struck by flying debris.
- If your home is on the low-lying ground or whether you’re in a mobile home, go to the nearest safe location, including a shelter.
- Whilst indoors, steer clear of windows, skylights and glass doors. Locate a safer place to stay in, including an interior room or a bathroom on the lower level.
- During the storm, the electrical wiring might be damaged; don’t use electric appliances to prevent fire hazards and electrical shocks.
- If your home is in danger of flooding, turn off power at the primary circuit breaker. Don’t turn on the power until local governments have advised you to do so.
- Never use gasoline-powered or charcoal-burning devices inside to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep those devices outside.
- If trapped in a building that’s flooding, visit the highest level. However, don’t climb into a closed attic as rising floodwater can trap you.
- Lightning can be a security risk. Stay safe from lightning in your house through a storm by NOT using the bathtub, telephone, or electric equipment.
- Be aware that the eye of this storm can pass over your region, where the storm will calm. On the other hand, the storm could begin again without warning.
- Stay inside until the regional police have announced that the storm is finished. Listen to the radio or turn on the TV (if safe do this) to get the latest updates.
After the Hurricane
- Cling to police for information and special instructions.
- Never walk or drive on flooded streets or through water. Only six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, along one foot of water can sweep your vehicle away. Floodwater may also contain contaminants, harmful debris, or downed power lines.
- Enter a damaged building just after the electrical system, gas lines, and pipes have been inspected for damage.
- Take photos of any property damage and contact your insurance company for assistance.
- Don’t touch wet electric equipment, more so in case, you are standing in water.
- Throw out food that’s been subjected to floodwaters or has not been maintained at the right temperature.
- Don’t drink tap water in case you’re not sure it’s safe.
For flooding cleanup services, get the PuroClean drying professionals!
Water damage to your house can still happen even if you’ve followed appropriate tips about how to prepare for hurricanes. Following a flooding incident, everything that got wet in your house must be dried, cleaned, and disinfected promptly.
For water removal services and mold cleaning solutions, contact PuroClean Naples promptly. Our staff will arrive at your location in a timely way to avert additional water damage and mold growth.
