Your home should be your safe space and an oasis from the daily grind. You want to sleep easy at night feeling safe in your own home. No matter where you live, severe weather is a possibility. Different areas just deal with different types of weather at varying degrees. When severe weather strikes, it should feel reassuring to shelter in your own house.
However, when a disaster happens to a friend or community member’s house, it can make you feel fearful of the ‘what ifs.’ Thinking about the loss of your home or massive damage to your property can be stressful. Luckily, there are ways to safeguard your home against severe weather. Keep reading for tips to do just that.
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1. Acquire Comprehensive Home Insurance
One way to safeguard your property is by having a comprehensive insurance plan. Make sure to fully read the policy to ensure it covers what you need. For example, if you have a full and finished basement, you might want to add protection for indoor flooding. If your water heater leaks or a downpour causes water to pour into your basement, it’s good to be protected.
Depending on your area, you might want to make sure your premium covers flood or hurricane insurance as well. Not all policies automatically cover these natural disasters, so check with your agent. Check your policies to make sure they cover your garage and outbuildings if you have those as well.
2. Trim Trees and Vegetation
You’ve likely seen a tree fall on a roof and boy does that look stressful. Tree removal on top of filing an insurance claim and finding a contractor — it’s a lot of work and stress. Did you know there’s a way to lessen the probability of this happening to you? Keep up with trimming your trees, shrubs, and vegetation on your property. Dead limbs and sticks and excess dry vegetation can have several different impacts on your property.
In the case of extreme winds, storms, tornados, and even hurricanes, these dead limbs can be thrown into your buildings. Debris falling onto your roof or through windows is costly and dangerous. Are you in an area that is going through a dry spell or where there’s a chance of wildfire? Excess dry sticks and vegetation can serve as kindling. It can not only accelerate the spread of the fire, but it can bring the fire to your doorstep.
3. Inspect Your Roof and Gutters
Speaking of trees and debris falling on your roof, have you checked your roof lately? One way to keep yourself safe and dry from the elements is checking that your roof is in working order. Loose shingles can fly off during storms. They can do damage to other parts of your property or to your neighbor’s house. Bad spots in your roof can also lead to leaks, causing a myriad of other issues.
While it’s important to check on your roof itself, don’t forget to pay attention to your gutters. Keep them clean. This covers you in a few areas related to safety. In areas prone to wildfires, it takes that dry kindling off your roof. For areas prone to heavy rainfall, it keeps the gutters clear so that water can flow through the gutters. This allows the water to move out and away from your house versus pooling at the foundation.
4. Install Impact-Resistant Windows and Doors
Did you know your windows and doors can impact your insurance rates? In hurricane susceptible areas, installing impact-resistant windows, doors, and garage doors can lower your rates. Additionally, doing so can lessen the likelihood of damage to your house. You can feel more secure during all storm types with these protections. It might cost you more to upgrade, but it can save you money and peace of mind in the long run.
Even if you’re not in a hurricane area, it might be a good idea to upgrade doors and windows. While you might not need impact-resistant grade outside of those areas, quality windows and doors can combat water and high winds. In big storms, stopping both from coming into your home can add massive security. It can also prevent additional damage. For example, water leaking in around your windows can damage your window pane, wall, and floor.
5. Install and Check Safety Alarms
Proper alarms can help alert you to danger during severe weather and impact. Working fire alarms are always necessary. They serve you well during a wildfire or should lightning strike and cause a fire, as well. Carbon monoxide detectors are wise to have too. It’s an odorless and colorless gas, so detectors are really the only way to alert you against this silent killer.
Weather radios are a great companion to your other alarms. They can alert you when you’re in a severe weather warning or evacuation zone. Get one that runs off battery backup power so it will work even if your power is out. Weather radio transmission can sometimes get through as well when televisions and cell phones are down.
6. Make a Family Emergency Plan
Sometimes a lack of planning can cause the most panic. Creating a family emergency plan takes the guesswork out of a chaotic and stressful event. Go over this plan with your family and review it annually. In the event of a fire, make sure everyone knows a common meeting place outside the home. In case of severe winds, hurricane, or tornado, have a plan to stay in a low level room with limited windows.
You might have noticed most of these tips come with prevention in mind. Preparation and planning for safety can make a huge impact when disaster strikes. Chaos and the unknown can be overwhelming and, in the worst cases, deadly. Plans and prevention can take some of the unknowns out of the equation and save your property — and even your life.
Doing some of these safeguards can also help prevent damage or additional damage from happening. Try out a few of these tips to be ready for whatever weather may come your way. You can rest easy and weather the storms in the comfort of your home.
