How to Prepare Your Home for a Hurricane

5/10/2022 (Permalink)

How Do You Prepare Your Home for a Hurricane?

If you live on Long Island, you’re aware of how important it is to prepare your home for a hurricane. And while you may know hurricane preparedness measures like the back of your hand, it’s always a good idea to have a quick refresher course. The Nassau County storm damage cleanup and restoration professionals at SERVPRO of East Meadow/Westbury share some of the most important tips.

Remove Branches and Limbs

Before hurricane season is in full swing, walk around your property and locate any branch or limb that may become dangerous should the wind pick up during a hurricane. If you do not, there’s a chance they could snap and create a very dangerous situation for you and your loved ones. Of course, if you cannot safely remove any limbs or branches yourself, you should seek assistance from a professional.

Tidy Up the Gutters

Believe it or not, your gutters play a very important role: They help keep water away from your home. However, if there’s an obstruction, H2O can begin to collect and seep into your home. As a result, this can lead to water damage and mold or mildew growth, should the issue go unseen. To help lessen the chance of this from happening, you must clean your gutters and remove any lingering debris within them. If you’d like to go the extra mile, consider adding gutter guards to prevent future foliage from settling inside the channels.

Put Outdoor Furnishings Away

Whether it’s a lawn gnome or a lawn chair, put all of your outdoor furnishings away if you know a hurricane is on the way. Unfortunately, if the winds pick up speed, something as seemingly harmless as a patio chair could go airborne and cause damage to your home. If you’re unable to store your lawn furniture away by some chance, consider finding ways to secure them in the ground or on a nearby permanent structure.

Seal Your Windows and Doors

Over time, the elements will eat away at any weather stripping you have placed around doors and windows. To ensure your home is sealed as tight as possible during a hurricane, walk around your property and inspect the weather stripping around your windows and doors. If something looks like it could use some new caulking, don’t hesitate to reapply it as soon as you spot the problem area.

Map Out Your Evacuation Plan

Although this tip doesn’t relate to your home, it’s still crucial to consider. Before a hurricane arrives, you must map out your evacuation plan. Planning ahead of time will keep you and your loved ones calm in an emergency; you’ll know exactly where you need to go and what you should bring with you should local government officials say you need to evacuate your home.

Some of the things you should include in your plan are:

• The location of your nearest emergency shelter
• Various routes you can take to get there
• A list of emergency contacts 
• Copies of important documents 
• An emergency kit filled with gallons of water, non-perishable food, first-aid supplies, and more

Storm Damage Cleanup and Restoration Services in Nassau County

If your home or business sustains damage from a hurricane or storm, SERVPRO of East Meadow/Westbury is here to help. Our team has the tools and expertise to restore everything to its original state “Like it never even happened.” We can handle it all, from drying water damage to repairing structural damage. If you need assistance with storm-related damages, please call us at (516) 334-2927.