Preparing your home:
Secure the exterior:
- Install hurricane shutters or board up windows with plywood to prevent shattering.
- Clear rain gutters and downspouts to prevent water backups.
- Trim trees and shrubs around your house to eliminate the potential of falling debris.
- Secure or bring in your loose outdoor items, such as patio furniture, garbage cans, and decorations.
Reinforce the Roof, Doors, and Garage Doors:
- Inspect and maintain your roof regularly, replacing any loose or damaged shingles or tiles.
- Consider installing additional bolts or reinforcements to strengthen doors against high winds.
- Reinforce garage doors with horizontal bracing or install stronger doors designed to withstand high winds.
Prepare for Potential Flooding:
- Elevate appliances, furniture, and valuables if you live in a flood-prone area.
- Clear debris from gutters, downspouts, and drainage areas around your home.
- Consider installing a sump pump with a battery backup to help remove accumulated water.
Protect your windows:
- Install hurricane shutters to board up windows with plywood to prevent shattering and water intrusion.
Secure Utilities:
- Turn off propane tanks and unplug small appliances.
- Know how to shut off electricity, gas, and water at the main switches and valves.
Review Your Insurance Coverage:
- Take an inventory of all your valuables before the storm (with photos and videos) for potential insurance claims.
- Understand your deductibles and document any damages with photos or videos for insurance claims.
Create an Emergency Kit:
- Stock up on non-perishable food, bottled water, blankets, flashlights with extra batteries, portable phone charges, and any necessary medications or prescriptions.
Watercraft and Mobile Assets:
Most insurance policies require reasonable efforts to protect watercraft, mobile homes, and other movable assets from impending hurricanes. If possible, consider the following measures:
- Relocate watercraft to a secure inland storage facility or marina away from the storm's projected path.
- Transport mobile homes and vehicles to a sheltered location with minimal exposure to falling trees and debris.
- For assets that cannot be relocated, secure them in a sturdy structure or move them to an open area with limited potential hazard.
Family Preparedness:
- Refill any prescriptions ahead of time.
- Fill you vehicle's gas tank.
- Stock up on essential supplies, such as bottled water, canned goods, flashlights, and plywood.
- Consider evacuating if you are in the direct path of the storm.
- Have a plan and route for evacuation if needed, accounting for all family members, including pets.
- Inform all group members of the plan and their roles/ responsibilities.
- Keep pets close by and inside during a storm.
- If not evacuating, seek shelter in an interior room away from windows, such as a closet. Stay put until it is safe to move.
- Store valuable papers in waterproof bags.
- If told to evacuate, do so immediately.
By following these preparedness measures, you can better protect your home, family, and belongings from the potential devastation of a hurricane.