Every year, homeowners and residents of coastal regions throughout the United States face the potential risk of hurricanes. And whether these seasonal storms prove to be no more than a nuisance or a massively destructive event, is out of their control. What is in their control, however, is how prepared they are.
At Starkweather & Shepley, our risk exposure specialists can help. Here are a few of the tips, pain points, and preventive steps you can take to be in the best position to weather the storm.
1. Review Your Insurance Policy
This might seem like an obvious place to start, but the truth is that many business owners and homeowners don’t know the details of their hurricane insurance policy until they’re fishing it out of a flooded basement finding the number to call. Now is the time to review your policy and familiarize yourself with what it does or does not cover. Also, we advise that you make sure all the contacts you need in case of an emergency are readily available to you. We suggest you store the numbers in your phone, and, on the off chance you lose power, a good old pad of paper with the needed names, phone numbers, and email addresses of your insurance provider and emergency contacts is always good to have.
2. Inspect Your Roof and Resolve Leaks
The worst time to find out you have a leak in your roof is when water is dripping into pots and pans on your floor. If it’s been a while since the last time your roof was replaced, or you’re aware of places that may pose a potential threat to water ingress—think skylights, chimneys, flashing areas, and any damaged roof tiles or aging shingles—it may be time to inspect these areas. Consult a licensed professional and address any potential areas of concern before it’s too late.
3. Seal Gaps and Cracks
Before hurricane season gets underway, it’s a good idea to check and seal all gaps and cracks in your home. These often form around door frames, windowsills, electric boxes, vents, pipes, and baseboards. Filling these gaps with caulk will not only help to protect your home against potential damage from a serious storm, doing so will also help seal your home and aid in energy efficiency (the less air that can get out, the less air can get in—your AC unit will thank you). Focus on all exterior facing walls when sealing; you can find the materials you need at a local hardware store or contact a specialist for assistance.
4. Clean Gutters and Downspouts
If you’ve ever looked out your window during a rainstorm and seen the water overflowing your gutters, there’s a good chance you (or someone else) should hop on a ladder and give them a cleaning. By ensuring that your gutters and your downspouts are flowing freely, you can mitigate potential leaks, roof damage, and chances of flooding around the foundation.
5. Create a Home Inventory
One of the most devastating and painful parts of experiencing severe hurricane damage is the destruction of personal items. Whether those items are personal, such as your childhood photo album or have significant monetary value, like that Vermeer you’ve been storing in the basement, cataloging all your home’s items is a good idea. Make a list, put it somewhere safe (a physical copy and an electronic copy is advised), and take photos of the belongings. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use the list, but if you do, you’ll be glad you have it.
6. Trim Your Trees
Trees are amazing. They provide shade, they’re pretty, and they produce oxygen—what’s not to like? However, you want to make sure you’re looking at trees through your living room window, not in your living room. Dead branches, old growth, and precarious overhangs can all spell disaster when the wind starts whipping up. If you’ve noticed a few trees that could use a trim over the winter, now’s the time to break out the chainsaw and start trimming (or, if DIY isn’t your thing, call a professional).
7. Home Systems
When you own a home, there are a lot of things you’ll have and hope never to need—a home alarm system, for instance, or a panic room. Add to that list generators, backup power, and sump pumps. Having them provides great peace of mind in case of an emergency, but only if they work. Before you’re fumbling for a power switch by candlelight, check your generator, familiarize yourself with the controls, and ensure it is working. Do the same with any emergency pump systems you might have. No lights? No problem.
8. Evacuation Plan
Chances are, you’ve never had to use the phrase “head for the hills” in a serious way. However, when the water starts rising, you want to be sure you know where to go for safety. If you find yourself in the path of a serious storm, plan a route out of town in case there is severe flooding, pack an emergency back, and make arrangements for any pets (if you have them). The last thing you want to be doing is throwing wet clothes in a backpack and Googling “evacuation routes near me” while the water is rushing in your front door.
Still, have questions? Speak to one of our specialists today
and together, we can weather the storm.
