Preparing Your Home for a Hurricane, Sooner Is Better

10/4/2016 (Permalink)

Rely on SERVPRO After a Hurricane or Tropical Storm in Palm Coast

SERVPRO Strongly Suggests that Preparation Before a Hurricane Will Mitigate Damages

With hurricane season upon us (June 1- November 30, 2016), it is crucial that your home is ready to withstand the torrential rains and gale force winds that accompany this natural disaster. Here are several tips designed to help you prep your home for a hurricane.
   
Make certain everything is secure to prevent or mitigate hurricane damage in Palm Coast.
Begin by securing (and clearing any debris from) your rain gutters to prevent possible water damage before moving on to the windows. Hopefully, you have already installed storm shutters, however, you can board windows up if you have not. Your doors should have multiple locks in place, preferably deadbolts, to prevent doors from flying open.

Pay attention to your yard.
Now is the time to trim overgrown trees and remove damaged branches/ limbs. Hurricane winds can quickly pick them up and throw them into the sides of your home, potentially breaking doors and windows or even destroying the siding. If you are expecting a hurricane shortly, SERVPRO suggests that you place any outdoor furniture, potted plants, or other unsecured items somewhere safe. They can easily become projectiles that damage your home or a neighbor’s home during a hurricane.
 
Check and reinforce your roof.
If your roof has any loose shingles or tiles, use roofing cement to secure them. Also, seal any areas of the roof where wires enter your home. You may even want to purchase hurricane straps to make certain your roof is bolted to your home. Before hurricane season, it is a good idea to have your insurance agent check your home for wind mitigation. This will advise you on what you can do to have your roof anchored solidly, and this may also reduce your insurance premium.
 
Take a close look at your insurance policy.
If you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes, it is important to update your policy from time to time to ensure you have an adequate amount of insurance and to address any potential coverage gaps.
 
Reinforce your garage doors.
Most garage doors aren’t reinforced, meaning that if the wind gets caught inside it can create a push-pull combination that sends your roof flying off and damaging cars and personal items. Fortunately, you can purchase reinforcement kits at your local home improvement store that can brace your doors and prevent this from happening.
 
Inventory the things in your home.
Even the best planning doesn’t guarantee your home will be able to withstand a hurricane. This is why it is so important to know what you have before it hits. This will make it much to start the claim process once you are out of immediate danger. Photo records and documentation can help you achieve a fair conclusion to your claim provided you have coverage.
 
SERVPRO of Flagler County can help with your insurance claim, relieve some stress with all this mess, and quickly restore your home to mitigate secondary water damage from the hurricane. Contact us 24/7 at (386) 447-2202.