If you live in an area that is known for having some bad weather in certain parts of the year, then you definitely have to find a way to protect yourself. And, I am talking about more than just some rain and winds. I’m talking about heavy rains, strong winds, and, well, hurricane weather in general. Finding a way to protect your home is of utmost importance here, because you don’t want to leave it vulnerable to damage, and then have to deal with serious, as well as expensive, aftermaths.
Of course, not every single place in the country is prone to such bad weather. Some places are more prone to it than others, and there are locations that you definitely have to worry about. In Florida, for example, there are a lot of cities that get this kind of bad weather. Such as, for instance, Miami and Tampa, as they get a lot of hurricanes and are, therefore, quite vulnerable. Your task is, of course, to find a way to protect your properties against the damage that those hurricanes can cause.
How can you do that, though? Well, there are definitely some important steps that you should take in order to enhance the security of your home. What we are going to do right now, thus, is talk about some of those in more details, hoping to make things a bit clearer to you and to let you know about the important steps you will absolutely have to take if you want to increase the safety of your home and of the people inside it. So, without any further ado, let us start talking about those crucial things that you have to know and have to do if you live in a place prone to such bad weather.
Inspect and Secure the Roof
Clearly, you will have to reinforce the structure of your home, and thus ensure that its structural integrity remains intact during hurricane season. This, among other things, means inspecting and securing the roof. In fact, protecting structural integrity definitely starts with the roof, as it is one of the main parts of your home, as well as one of the most vulnerable ones during hurricanes. What can you exactly do here, though?
For one thing, you should do an inspection to check if there are any missing or damaged shingles, and then fix those issues prior to the hurricane season. Then, you may want to invest in some impact-resistant shingles that offer additional protection, or in metal roofing that is known for being rather durable. And, of course, using hurricane straps and clips is also a good idea, as that will help you anchor the roof to the walls, and thus enhance your overall safety.
Install the Right Doors and Windows
The roof may be the first vulnerable part of your home that you will think about, but there are definitely others. Your doors and windows, for instance, are also quite vulnerable, as they are the entry points to your home. That means that you definitely need to find a way to protect them, and you can do that through, say, installing hurricane shutters and similar additions to those parts of the property.
But, the very best thing to do here is actually have the right windows and doors installed. What does that precisely mean, though? To put it simply, it means that you should invest in impact resistant windows and doors, as those are made specifically with the purpose of enhancing your home’s security during hurricane season. The laminated glass won’t shatter on impact, and the reinforced frames are sure to withstand any kind of high wind pressure, which is definitely a big deal. So, what you have to do here is find the right suppliers and get impact resistant windows and doors installed on your home, aiming at protecting it during hurricane season, or against any kind of bad weather that may come your way, no matter where it is that you are specifically located.
Coastal cities are becoming increasingly vulnerable to hurricanes, and here’s a useful read about that: https://www.earth.com/news/coastal-cities-are-increasingly-vulnerable-to-hurricanes/
Remove Potential Hazards From the Yard
We all love having comfortable furniture on the patio, and perhaps a barbecue, or other things that make our outdoor experiences more enjoyable. And, while that is all nice and well, the truth is that such items can pose a great threat to your property during hurricane season. Does that mean that you shouldn’t invest in them at all, and that you should always keep your yard clean and free of such enjoyable additions?
Not exactly. You don’t have to give up on the outdoor fun. But, come hurricane season, you do have to remove those potential hazards from your home, bringing the patio furniture inside, or securing the barbecue or any other items safely to the ground, so that they don’t fly away during the high winds, and potentially damage your home by hitting it. Take your time, therefore, to do this the right way and thus decrease the risk of getting your property damaged.
Improve Drainage
Bad weather can also cause floods, as I am guessing you understand. This further means that you will have to, among other things, improve your drainage, in order to ensure that the water is going away from your property, in order to mitigate the flood risk. Clean the gutters, consider adding flood vents and barriers, use sandbags, and don’t forget to apply waterproof sealant to your basement walls, as well as the foundation.
Install a Backup Power Source
As it is clear already, power outage is certainly quite common during bad weather. So, you need a plan B. In other words, you should install a backup power source. Thus, get a reliable generator in order to keep the important appliances running even if there is a power outage, as that will also keep you much safer during hurricane season.
