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Do you live on the coast? If so, you must know how to protect your home from a hurricane. Hurricanes can do substantial damage, and, if not properly combated, could destroy your home entirely.
Wondering how to hurricane proof your house? Read on. This guide is going to show you the way.
Board Up Your Windows
Hurricanes can produce winds of up to 200 miles per hour. At this speed, objects can be flung like projectiles, causing unbelievable damage to homes. As such, when a hurricane is approaching, you need to board up your windows.
This can be done with a few boards from a home improvement store. However, it can also be achieved with the use of more sophisticated entities (ie. metal hurricane shutters, grommet screens, etc.).
If you’re looking to be proactive, permanent hurricane shutters would be your best option. However, if you’re looking to get the job done in a hurry, wooden boards are probably your best bet.
Interested in installing hurricane shutters? Find out how to choose the right ones now!
Prune Your Trees
When hurricanes arrive, they can rip weak branches from trees with amazing force. Unfortunately, once these branches have been ripped off, they can be flung at houses at exceedingly high speeds.
This is why, before the hurricane hits, you need to prune your trees. By removing weak branches from your trees before the hurricane hits, you reduce the risk of them being ripped off and thrown at your house.
While you could opt to prune your trees on your own, you might find that a professional tree care service provides better results. A professional will know which branches are worrisome and will be able to prune your trees in an optimal manner, reducing the risk of damage in the future.
Clear the Gutters
In truth, your gutters should always be clear. That said, if there’s one time that you’re going to clean your gutters, it should be directly before a hurricane.
After all, rain is about to pour down into your gutters at rapid speed. If they’re not cleared, they’ll allow that rain to pool, causing premature damage to your roof and your attic. And while you’re at it, make sure that your downspouts are clear as well.
Have a Generator Handy
If your house encounters a hurricane, it will almost certainly experience a power outage. After all, power lines aren’t known to hold up to high winds and flying debris.
As such, in order to keep everything powered, you need to keep a generator handy on your property. In the wake of the storm, a generator will allow you to power lights, radios, phones, and other important entities, thus helping you to get through the experience in a safe and productive manner.
Make sure to keep some gas on-hand as well. Generators need to be powered by something, after all.
Reinforce the Garage Door
Garage doors are notoriously bad at withstanding hurricane-force winds. As such, before a hurricane reaches land, you need to make sure that your garage door is reinforced.
Some garage doors are specifically designed to withstand hurricanes. If you already have one of these garage doors, you don’t have much to worry about. If you don’t, however, you will need to take other measures.
There are a few different ways to reinforce a garage door. One option is to install a permanent reinforcement post. Another option is to temporarily cover the garage door with metal panels.
Regardless of the method you use, you need to make sure that you do this, especially if your garage is connected to your house. If your garage is connected to your house, and its door is blown off during the hurricane, the hurricane could cause your home’s roof to collapse entirely.
Waterproof Your Basement
Having a basement in a coastal area is always a risky proposition. Having a basement in a hurricane-prone area is asking for trouble. That said, if you do have a basement, there are things you can do to protect it from serious flooding.
The most basic option is to install a sump pump. However, a sump pump alone will not be enough.
In addition to a sump pump, you should also install a drain tile system and maybe even a waterproofing membrane. These entities can help to block and filter away water, going a long way in keeping a hurricane-prone basement dry.
For more information about basement waterproofing, give a call to your local basement waterproofing company. They’ll have a number of waterproofing options for you to consider.
Keep an Emergency Kit
You never know how a hurricane might affect your house. It could pass by with little damage done. On the other hand, it could have dire consequences.
This is why you need to keep an emergency kit in your house at all times. An emergency kit can help get you out of a bad situation, ensuring the safety of both your home and your family.
Wondering what you should put in your emergency kit? You should include everything from food to flashlights to radio to batteries to water and more. You’ll also want to include some minor medical accessories (bandaids, medications, etc.).
This way, should an emergency occur, you’ll be able to quickly access the items you need.
Knowing How to Hurricane Proof Your House Could Pay Major Dividends
It’s simple: if you live next to the ocean, you need to know how to hurricane proof your house. Failure to adequately protect your home from a hurricane could have major repercussions, not only on your home but on your family as well.
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