Prepare Your Home for a Hurricane

Home Insurance Basics, Insurance Advice

Prepare Your Home for a HurricaneAwareness and preparation can keep you safe and reduce the adverse effects on your home, boat and other property.

National Hurricane Preparedness Week 2012 runs from May 27th through June 2nd. A hurricane  is a type of tropical storm in the western North Atlantic having wind speeds of, or in excess of, 72 miles per hour. These intense storms can cause extensive damage through torrential rainfall and excessive flooding, powerful wind, and flying debris. Awareness and preparation for these seasonal storms can keep you safe and reduce the adverse effects on your home, boat and other property.

The Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) offers these practical tips to secure your home before a hurricane hits.

Before a Hurricane

  • Cover all of your home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8” marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.
  • Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This will reduce roof damage.
  • Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.
  • Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
  • Reinforce your garage doors; if wind enters a garage it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.
  • Plan to bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down.
  • Turn off propane tanks.
  • Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other larger containers with water.
  • Close all interior doors – secure and brace external doors.

“The information on this site is general in nature. Any description of coverage is necessarily simplified. Whether a particular loss is covered depends on the specific facts and the provisions, exclusions and limits of the actual policy. Nothing on this site alters the terms or conditions of any policies, nor does it provide any guarantees. You should read your specific policy for a complete description of coverage.”

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