If you live in Florida, there’s always a potential that a hurricane will hit your town during the hurricane season.
You might be thinking True, but I don’t have to worry about that until next September… Wrong!
Did you know that hurricane season is actually a 6-month long period? It starts on June 1st and runs all the way until November 30th each year. Granted, most of the major ones happen from August to October, but you should always be prepared.
Given that, there are several ways you can get ready for it. Here are several hurricane preparedness tips to get you and your family set up.
1. Plan Your Evacuation
One of the biggest mistakes Florida residents make during a hurricane is not having an evacuation plan prior to the week the hurricane hits.
By that time, resources are scarce as people run to the local stores and gas stations to stock up. Don’t put you and your family in that position.
It’s advantageous to have an evacuation plan ahead of time. Think of things like where you’d evacuate to, the route you’ll take to get there, and what you’ll bring along when you come.
As the storm draws closer, your mind will be racing getting your home ready. If you already have an evacuation plan, it’s one less thing to worry about.
2. Install Hurricane Shutters
Simply put, if you don’t have hurricane shutters on your house, your windows are susceptible to being shattered by flying debris.
The last thing you want to come home to after evacuating is a home that’s been severely damaged by broken windows. Your house will be a victim of water damage from the rain coming in through the broken window.
All of this can be avoided by taking the proper precautions and setting your windows up with hurricane shutters.
Call an experienced hurricane shutter company today and see what products are right for you.
3. Store Non-Perishable Items
Save yourself from the madness of the last-minute store rush during a hurricane and always have an emergency bag ready.
Keep things like batteries, candles, non-perishable food, first aid packs, and flashlights on-hand.
Doing so will be a significant help in case you become trapped in your house or on the road during evacuation.
4. Install Surge Protection
As you can imagine, with a storm as severe as a hurricane your house is much more susceptible to power surges.
Be sure to buy a surge protector for both your electric panel and any power strips you have in the house.
Not doing so can ruin your entire electrical unit. With everything else the power company will have to restore after a hurricane hits, it could be months before yours gets fixed.
5. Take Pictures of Your Property
You should always be prepared for hurricanes with proper flood insurance (more on that in a moment).
However, even with flood insurance, the company will want proof of your belongings and the shape they were in prior to the storm.
As such, be sure to make a list of all items in your house, their worth, and take a photo of each item that you list.
6. Cover the AC Unit on the Outside
Being on the side or the back of your house, your outside air conditioning unit is at risk of having damage done to it during the storm.
Decently sized debris can hit it (causing dents) or get stuck into the unit which could compromise its usage entirely.
Find a way to cover it up, such as a protective cover that will keep unwanted objects out of the unit while the hurricane is going on.
7. Double-Check Your Insurance
One of the most important things during a hurricane threat is making sure that you and your family are protected from whatever casualty may happen.
The homeowners or renters insurance will cover a few things here and there that have to do with losses you accrue. Homeowners insurance will even cover a few repairs that you need after the fact.
However, neither of them cover flood damage. That’s why having flood insurance is so important. Don’t let a hurricane be a financial setback for your family. There are things you can do now to make sure that never happens.
8. Scan the Area for Potential Debris
You won’t be able to control the amount of debris that a hurricane whips up and lashes out among your neighborhood.
However, depending on the severity of the hurricane, it may just be a few things around your house that you need to clear before evacuating.
Scan your front and backyard for things that could potentially turn into debris that will knock into your house during the storm. You’ll know it when you see it. Remove things like signs, potted plants, kid toys in the front yard, etc.
9. Cut Weak Tree Branches
The last thing you should do is make sure to cut any weak or dying branches off your trees as soon as you notice them.
During a storm, those will fall off and wreak havoc along with your house.
Depending on the size, they could fall down on your house and take out the roof/wall that’s nearest to it.
Put These Hurricane Preparedness Tips into Practice
Now that you’ve seen a bevy of hurricane preparedness tips to consider, don’t wait any longer to put them to use.
Be sure to read this article on choosing the best hurricane shutter for your home for more information on step 2 on this list.
For more inquiries, please reach out via our contact page and we’ll be happy to assist you further.
