How to Protect Your Home Before and After Hurricane Season

In recent years, the damage from hurricanes has been catastrophic. While it may seem that there is nothing that can be done to avoid such destruction, this is far from the truth. Here are some essential tips to protect your home before and after hurricane season.

Protect Your Windows

Entry points like windows and doors are the most vulnerable part of your home during a major storm.
Providing extra protection to your windows can help keep your home intact during a storm. Preventing your windows from shattering can also protect your home from being invaded by rain, wind and debris.
You have several options. Plywood offers an inexpensive option and an effective way to keep windows intact. Storm-resistant shutters are also effective against hurricane-force winds. Impact-resistant windows are also very effective and provide other benefits to your home year-round.

Properly Seal Your Doors and Windows

Wind only needs a very small opening to infiltrate a home. Small openings can become much larger during hurricane weather. Seal your doors and windows to ensure no wind can penetrate them.

Protect Your Home from Possible Flood Damage

Flooding can occur during hurricane or non-hurricane weather. One effective method to prevent flooding is to pile sandbags at least two feet high to create a barricade against floodwaters.

Secure Your Roof

You can make your roof more secure and protect the integrity of your home by installing hurricane ties or straps. These straps strengthen the attachment of the roof to the walls so that the roof does not fly off. You should also regularly inspect your roof for any loose or missing shingles or tiles. Any gaps can allow winds to get underneath the roof and rip it off during a storm.

Reinforce Your Garage Door

In high winds garage doors can blow in or be pushed out. Once this barricade is removed, wind can infiltrate the home, rip off the roof and tear down the walls. You can install a double garage door that is resistant to wind and impact. An alternative and more affordable option is to purchase a vertical garage door brace.

Clean Your Gutters

During hurricanes and other heavy storms, massive amounts of rain can accumulate. If your gutters are clear, this rain can quickly flow away from your home and its foundation. However, if your gutters are full of leaves, sticks, or other debris, water can stay on top of your home, threatening the integrity of your home.

Properly Grade Your Home

Make sure that the grade of your lot keeps water away from your home. You may need a ditch, drain or other retention area to prevent water from flowing to the foundation of your home.

Trim Your Trees

During storms, tree limbs can come loose and damage your home, roof windows and other property.
Regularly trim them to prevent damage. Also, remove coconuts from your palm trees before a storm because they can come loose and cause damage to your home and your neighbors’ homes.