If you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes, then you probably already understand the importance of taking the right measures of precaution in order to stay safe. You know that the winds can be quite damaging, and that there is also a great risk of flooding if you are not properly protected. Meaning, thus, that you want to get properly protected, and ensure that your property remains in good condition afterwards, as well as that nobody inside is injured. Doing this, of course, takes a lot of planning, so you will absolutely have to do your best to keep your home safe.
The thing is, though, you may not be sure about how to do that. Whether you have just moved to a hurricane prone area, or you haven’t really thought about this too much previously, the truth is that you could be a bit confused about how to actually protect your home against flooding during hurricane season. And, well, that is precisely what we are going to be discussing below
Here’s how to stay safe during a storm in general: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2ezv1e680o
Now, clearly, in addition to the flooding, you will also need to think about the high winds, and take the necessary precautions to keep your home safe against those as well. Today, though, we are mostly going to focus on protecting it against flooding. Although, as you will see, there are some things that you can do in order to enhance overall safety, as some solutions have been created with both flooding and high winds in mind. Let us not get ahead of ourselves, though.
So, to put it simply, below I will offer some tips that you should use when trying to protect your property against flooding during hurricane season. Using those tips to your advantage will create a much safer environment for you and your whole family. Without any more ado, thus, let us start checking out what it is that you should do with this in mind.
Understand Your Flood Risks First
First things first, you have to understand your risks. After all, you can’t go around doing some random things in an effort that they will work well. Put differently, to be able to protect your home, you will absolutely need to assess and understand your level of flood risk in the first place. You can do this alone or work with some professionals to help you be more precise about it. And, if you find that your property is in a high-risk area, you should take some more serious steps to enhance its safety.
Get Impact Rated Windows and Doors
I have mentioned above that there are some solutions that take both the potential floods and the potential high wind damage into consideration. And, well, this is definitely one of them. If your doors and windows aren’t sturdy and strong, chances are that you will get in trouble, as they can break on impact and thus let the water in. Since this is not what you want, I am sure that you are looking for a way to improve those windows and doors and secure them in order to protect your whole home. Every single homeowner should do this, regardless of the area they live in, but especially so if they live in a high-risk one.
The solution is quite simple, fortunately. All you have to do is get an impact rated replacement of windows and doors, and thus relax, knowing that those won’t break on impact, and that they won’t let the water in. There are some great providers of these products out there, and if you go to their website, you will realize that this is one of the most important hurricane protection solutions that you absolutely have to use to your advantage, as well as that you can get it at a fair price. There is no denying the fact that you need to find the right company offering this particular solution, one that is reputable, reliable and trustworthy, and that operates in your particular area, so make sure to do your research before getting in touch.
Inspect Your Roof & Reinforce It
Your roofing project is another one of those areas that, if vulnerable, can lead to the hurricane causing a lot of damage. If you have missing or damaged shingles, water is sure to seep in, and this could even lead to some structural issue, which is definitely not what you want for your home. So, what is it that you should do in order to prevent things like these from happening?
Well, the first thing you should do is inspect your roof for any kind of damage. Then, either fix the issues if they are minor, or do a full replacement if the roof is old and no longer fixable. And, of course, don’t forget to reinforce the roof, using some hurricane straps and similar tools, in order to ensure that it remains in place, and that it doesn’t get damaged during the storms.
Improve Drainage Around the Property
Improving drainage around your property is definitely a must if you want to avoid flooding. So, clear your gutters, extend the downspouts, and think about installing French drains or rain gardens tips as well, as those can absorb the excess water. Good proper drainage is, as you may have guessed it, the first line of defense against flooding.
Leverage Flood Barriers
Using flood barriers is also a good idea. Sandbags, water activated flood bags, flood shields and panels… Those can all serve as great temporary protection. Place them so as to protect the doorways, the basement windows, the garage openings and similar areas. Naturally, remember to install these before the storm, and not when it starts, as that can be dangerous.
Prepare Your Interior Space
Finally, you should prepare your interior space. Because, no matter what you do, there is always a chance of some water finding a way inside. So, move the electronics to upper shelves, as well as all your valuables. Secure important documents, and maybe find a way to elevate your furniture as well. Basically, do anything you can to minimize the damage in case the water gets inside.
