8 Steps to Prepare Your Home for a Hurricane

With hurricane season approaching, it is crucial to be prepared for any kind of danger. Having a disaster plan includes knowing your local evacuation escape routes, check your local news channels for real-time updates, and building an emergency kit. While keeping you and your family safe is number one priority, your home should also be prepared. These eight tips will help keep you and your home safe this hurricane season.

1. Raise or lower your door threshold using a screwdriver. 

While it is almost impossible to prevent force winds from driving rain under your doors, consider using something to block the water when severe weather threatens. Sandbags mad by filling plastic grocery bags with sand are great when placed along your doors' exterior thresholds. Be careful not to exert pressure on the door, which can force it inward.

2. Examine the exterior of your home for cracks to the cementitious finish. 

You can repair any exposed cracks by using a concrete sealant found at your local hardware store in order to keep driving winds from pushing water into your home.

3. Check all caulked areas, especially the perimeter of your windows and doors. 

The hard rain will find its way into the smallest cracks. You will want to find a silicone-based, paintable caulk to eliminate the amount of water entering through your window tracks. Placing towels on the sills may also help keep the little water leaks from spreading to the rest of the house.

4. Prepare to install hurricane shutters. 

You should consider taking time now to ensure you have all of the appropriate tools and skills for proper hurricane shutter installation. If your home is not equipped with hurricane shutters, try using plywood as window protection.

5. Move furniture to the highest point in your home or stack on water-resistant materials. 

6. Make sure all exterior items that might be blown around are moved inside or properly secure.

Lawn chairs, bird feeders, and garden hoses can be blown away or become dangerous missiles during a hurricane or tropical storm conditions.

7. Make an inventory of your home and all of its contents, property, and other valuables. 

You will want to take the inventory documentation with you if you evacuate, or otherwise make sure the documentation is stored in a safe, weather-proof location (e.g., a bank safety deposit box).

8. Pre-pack irreplaceable items and documents for evacuation or otherwise safely stored.

You may consider packing important documents, jewelry, family photos, and any keepsakes in case you and your family need to quickly evacuate.  

Has your home suffered damage from a natural disaster?

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