How to Prepare Your Home for Hurricane Season

Hurricane season officially starts May 15 for the Pacific and June 1 for the Atlantic in 2023, and people along the U.S. coasts are getting ready. Hurricane winds can blow anywhere from 74 miles an hour to over 157 miles an hour, making it essential to prepare your home in case a hurricane threatens. Whether you have lived in hurricane-prone areas your whole life or are new to hurricane prep, there are many things to remember when you prepare your home for hurricane season.

Prepare Your Yard for Hurricane Season

A big cause of damage during hurricanes is branches blowing off of trees and bushes then crashing into houses or cars. To help prevent this, trim any dead tree branches that could possibly fall off your trees. Have trees that overhang your home regularly looked at by a tree-care specialist to make sure they are healthy and not in danger of falling over. You should also replace your gravel or rock landscaping with fire-resistant material, like fire-resistant mulch. This will help prevent damage to your home from flying rocks or gravel, and help prevent a hurricane-related fire from spreading around your home and through your yard. You should also move any items that are not weighted down, like patio furniture, planters, and garden decor, inside before the storm hits to prevent damage from flying debris.

Prepare Your Home for Hurricane Season

Preventing glass windows and doors from shattering is an important way to prepare your home for hurricane season. Broken glass is a safety hazard, and without the protection of windows, water, debris, and dirt can easily enter your home during the storm. Some homes come equipped with hurricane-tempered windows to prevent shattering during a hurricane. Your home also might have hurricane shutters, which can be pulled in front of the window in case of a storm. If your home doesn’t have these, putting plywood over the outside of the windows protects them as well.

Another way to protect your home is by strapping down the roof. Due to the strong winds during a hurricane, roofs can blow off, leaving your home exposed to the wind, rain, and debris. Before the hurricane arrives, use hurricane straps or clips to secure your roof to the walls of your house.

Additionally, caulking around your windows and doors can prevent water leaking in during the storm. If it looks like there are cracks around your windows and doors that could let in water, make sure to caulk them.

Protect Your Home with Insurance

An important part of home ownership is having the right insurance to cover you during a crisis. If you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes, make sure your insurance covers wind, fire, and flood damage. If you are unsure about your current coverage, call your insurance company ahead of time so you can make any changes needed.

If your home experiences damage from a hurricane, Atlantic Property Restoration is here to help. Contact us today to get more information and a quote!