Top Tips For Keeping Your Home Safe During Storms
- By Amy Collett
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Amy Collett is the creator of Bizwell.org, a website that helps professionals and entrepreneurs build and strengthen their personal brands.
Homeownership comes with many challenges. And one of the most unpredictable is extreme weather.
Every year, storms cause significant damage to people’s homes. But, it’s not enough to prepare for average weather events; you need to be ready for the worst ones too. You need to be confident that your house can stand up to anything Mother Nature throws at it.
Do you have everything covered to be safe when bad storms blow through? If you’re not sure, Easy Emergency Plan offers these tips.
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Rainstorms
One of the biggest worries for homeowners is how their house stands up to rainstorms. And that feeling never goes away, even if you buy a home that’s never had any water damage.
Anyone can find water in their basement or see a leak in their ceiling. However, these minor problems can become huge problems later. To ensure that doesn’t happen to you, make sure your roof stays in good condition with regular maintenance.
- Inspect your roof each spring.
- Seal around the chimney and vent pipes.
- Replace any shingles that are damaged.
- If you have a sump pump, test it every year to verify it’s in good working condition.
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Windstorms
High winds are another challenge homeowners often face. When you know a storm with high winds is coming, you can do a few things to prevent damage.
- Quickly clear your yard, so nothing becomes a projectile.
- Make sure your windows and doors are properly sealed so the wind can’t blow through cracks.
- Consider making a set of storm shutters to protect your windows from high winds, rain, and flying debris.
Hailstorms
Hailstorms can appear suddenly since weather conditions must be just right for them to happen. But there are still ways to be prepared.
- Make sure to keep trees near your house trimmed, as hail can cause already weak branches to fall on your property.
- Close any blinds or curtains to protect you in case hail breaks a window.
- Keep gutters clear of debris, so hail won’t pile up and cause water to flood into your home.
What To Do About Storm Damage
Storm-related damage to your home can be serious and lead to more significant problems in the future. So it’s best to fix things right away.
Make sure you file a claim with your insurance company as soon as possible. And stay in communication with your insurance agent during the process so you don’t miss anything that could hurt your claim.
While you wait for your claim to be processed, do whatever you can to protect your home from additional damage. Use tarps, plywood, or duct tape to cover areas where water might leak into your home. Then, make all the necessary repairs once you receive payment.
Addressing issues and repairing problems as they arise is also great for maximizing your home’s resale value. You won’t have to worry about upsetting prospective buyers or having to sell your property “as-is” for a lower price.
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Final Thoughts
Protecting your home from weather-related damages can feel like a never-ending process. But the importance of the job far outweighs what you stand to lose if you neglect it.
No matter what season you’re in, storms can do some crazy things. So make sure your home can stand up to them.
However, a safe home isn’t enough if you don’t have an emergency plan and emergency kit to go with it. If your family isn’t prepared to handle a disaster, it could mean the difference between life and death.
For additional information or checklists, be sure to check out Easy Emergency Plan today! If you’d like to help those affected by recent weather disasters, you can donate to the American Red Cross.
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