Unpredictable weather patterns becoming increasingly common due to climate change. It is important to be prepared for a wide variety of severe weather conditions. It is also imperative to ensure your home and its surroundings are secure during extreme events such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, hailstorms, wildfires, or heavy snowfall. Taking the right precautions to prepare your home for severe weather can help minimize damage, prevent injuries, and ensure peace of mind during a difficult time. Here are some pointers for carrying it out.
Check your Insurance Policies
Make sure your home insurance policies are up to date and cover all necessary areas in case of damage caused by a severe weather event. This should include your homeowner’s insurance, flood and earthquake coverage, and other policies necessary for your region. Moreover, you may want to consider additional coverage for potentially more expensive items such as electronics, furniture, and other valuable items.
Check Your Home’s Structure
Inspect your roof, windows, and doors to ensure they are secure and that there is no visible damage to the structure of your home. Look for missing shingles, cracked windows or glass, and any loose doors and hinges. You also want to look for any signs of water damage like water stains in ceilings or walls. Finding these could indicate potential leaks. Make any necessary repairs before a storm occurs to ensure your home is secure.
Have a Backup Energy Source
Keeping alternative power sources like a generator or a solar battery pack can in your garage help keep you and your family warm during harsh winter conditions. Using solar panels on your home is great, but if you can’t harvest the energy, then they won’t help you in difficult times. Ensuring that you have the best solar battery can provide backup electricity during power outages due to severe weather. Consider installing one if you don’t already have one. It will help keep the lights on, charge essential devices like phones and medical equipment, and even run important appliances during a storm. Research the best solution for your home from the vast variety of alternative power sources available. Look into the source’s capacity, efficiency, price, and other features to ensure it is the right one for you.
Trim Back Your Trees & Shrubs
It is important to keep your landscaping clear before a storm to lessen the possibility of falling branches or other debris. Clean up any dead or weak branches that could break easily during a storm and those close to power lines or buildings. Also, pay special attention to nearby trees with shallow roots, which may be more prone to falling during heavy winds.
Secure Your Outdoor Items
Bring any outdoor furniture, grills, and other items that could easily become airborne during a storm. This includes bikes, toys, yard decorations, bird baths, and potted plants. Secure any garage doors and windows as well to protect them from being harmed by high winds or other flying objects.
Store Important Documents
A fireproof safe or safety deposit box is a good option for the secure storage of vital papers. Social Security cards, birth certificates, wills, passports, and insurance policies are examples of such papers. Additionally, you will want to store copies of any receipts or warranties from electronics or other items in case they need to be replaced due to damage from the storm.
Create an Emergency Kit
Create an emergency kit that contains essential items such as bottled water, non-perishable food items, flashlights and batteries, and a first aid kit. You might also want to include clothing, blankets, a phone charger, and a battery pack. Keep this kit in an accessible place, such as a closet near the front door, to be able to grab it quickly and easily if a storm is on its way.
Conclusion
By preparing for severe weather events, you can ensure your home and family are safe and secure during the storm. Don’t wait until a storm is imminent to start prepping. Take this time now to take the necessary steps for weatherproofing your home and being prepared. Not only will it help protect your property from damage, but it may also help you save money on insurance or repairs later down the line. Moreover, knowing that your family will be safe during severe weather can give you peace of mind. Take time to weatherproof your home by inspecting the structure and trimming trees and shrubs in your yard. With these steps taken ahead of time, you can be sure that your home is prepared for severe weather.
