How to Protect Your Family’s Home From Storm and Disaster

Concerned homeowners are taking action to protect their homes from natural disasters. The steps that you should take to prevent a disaster are simpler than you think. Preparing for a storm has to involve preventing and reducing damages to your property. Here are a few suggestions to stormproof your house.

Remove Flying Debris

Some damages to your house are caused by flying debris. Remove any light objects that can be lifted up and tossed by the wind. Most hurricane storms exceed wind speeds of 70 mph up to 150 mph. Hurricane winds that are powerful enough to rattle windows can easily toss debris through the air that cracks your windows and siding.

Protect the Windows

Glass is the weakest material in your home that needs the most protection during a storm. There are different ways to protect your windows by installing storm shutters, installing plywood boards over the windows or replacing your windows with high-impact glass. In most cases, all you need to do is install a protective shield that you can easily pull over the glass instead of replacing the entire window.

Review Your Home Insurance Coverage

Home insurance covers some forms of storm damage caused by wind, hail or lightning. Since flooding and earthquakes only occur in few geographic regions, the policies for these disasters have to be purchased separately. If you're expecting a hurricane or thunderstorm, review the types of coverage and exclusions on your homeowners insurance policy.

Protect Against Power Surges

Power surges are caused by lightning that strikes power lines. Millions of volts of electricity will surge through your electrical outlets, causing irreversible damage to your circuits and appliances. Protecting your home from a power surge requires that you buy a surge protector that is attached to an electrical appliance. It works by monitoring and reducing the flow of electrical current that reaches excessively high levels.

Flood Proof the Yard

When your yard floods during a rainstorm, the water can run toward the house and cause damages to the walls or foundation. Think of flood proofing your yard to direct runoff away from the home. The first step is to clear out the gutters and make sure they're working properly. Direct the runoff away from the house and into a garden where it will seep into the ground instead of collect in pools.

While a storm cannot be prevented, the damages that it creates can be. If you reside in dry, hot or coastal areas, pay special attention to weather reports during storm season. Global warming increases the frequency and intensity of storms and natural disasters. Create a plan to protect your family's home whenever there is turbulent weather or a disaster.