Prepare Your Home for a Storm Master Checklist
It's never too early to prepare your family and your home for severe weather. Plan your storm readiness improvement projects with this master list.
The Basics
- Know the severe weather risks in your area.
- Prepare a Storm Readiness Kit.
- Sit down with your family and develop a plan in case of severe weather.
- Take pictures or videos of your house and valuables for insurance purposes.
Hurricanes
- Prepare shutters or other coverings for doors and windows.
- Reinforce the roof trusses—a cool-weather job.
- Examine and repair roof shingles—do it while the weather’s cool or overcast.
- Caulk openings, flashings and soffits.
- Reinforce the entry doors and round up exterior covering as required.
- Replace hard mulch with soft material.
- Buy and install a backflow-prevention device in your sewer line.
- Trim your trees and bushes.
- Purchase supplies for your Storm Readiness Kit.
- Purchase generator, gas cans, carbon monoxide detectors and extension cords.
- Decide how to tie down large outdoor equipment, and purchase supplies.
- Reinforce or replace your garage door.
- Purchase supplies for cleanup and repair.
Flooding
- Purchase flood insurance.
- Buy and install a backflow-prevention device in your sewer line.
- Consider moving heating/cooling appliances and electrical panel to higher level.
- Purchase plastic sheeting and sand bags.
- Seal basement walls to prevent seepage.
Tornado
- Consider buying or building a safe room or shelter.
- Have mattresses or padding available at your place of shelter.
- Decide how to tie down large outdoor equipment, and purchase supplies.
Did you know?
- Most hurricane damage is caused, not by wind, but water entering the house from leaks, broken windows, flood water, storm surges and back- flowing sewers.
- In over 80% of the cases, wind damage to homes starts when the garage door is compromised.
- SUVs—because of their larger size and larger tires—are actually more buoyant than small cars and can be swept away on flooded roads just as easily.
- The most common cause of roof shingle failure during a hurricane is poor installation and improper nailing.
- If you store water in case of emergencies, you’ll need at least one gallon per person, per day. A three-day supply is a good minimum.
Information for this post was made in collaboration with Lowes for a severe weather guide.
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Originally Published: August 29, 2017