For millions of Americans that live in hurricane-prone areas, preparing for the hurricane season starting June 1 is a fact of everyday life. If you find that you are asking yourself, “How do I prepare for hurricane season 2022?”, then you have come to the right place. Keep reading to learn what to do before a hurricane or tropical storm hits.
5 Ways To Get Ready for a Hurricane
1. Know Your Way Out: If you live along the coast, in a mobile home, or in a house that has been hit by a hurricane or tropical storm in the past, you need to know how you and your family are going to evacuate. While you’ll receive information from your local news and government during a storm, none of this information will be specifically tailored for you and your needs. For example, if you have pets, you’ll need to consider how to evacuate your furry creatures, and you’ll also want to have important papers and documents readily available.
2. Create an Emergency Kit: Once information about a storm is announced, everyone will begin hitting the stores to stock up on their emergency supplies. Don’t get caught in the rush, by always having extra supplies on hand, like batteries, lamps, candles, dry matches, enough drinking water for three days, prescription medicine, first aid supplies, and non-perishable foods. You’ll also want to make sure that you have tools for basic emergency repairs, such as a roof tarp, a flashlight, and a weather radio.
3. Protect Your Home: The strong winds generated by a hurricane can easily break windows and doors in your home, along with turning your outdoor patio furniture into projectiles that can cause significant damage. To reduce the likelihood of needing to file an insurance claim after a storm or injuring a loved one, you can easily take a few of the steps outlined below:
- Install storm shutters on your windows
- Use bark for landscaping instead of gravel or rock
- Remove dead trees or branches that are weak and/or extend towards your home
- Hurricane proof exterior doors
- Use tempered glass for sliding doors
4. Take Stock of Your Belongings: Knowing exactly what possessions you own will pay dividends if your home and belongings are damaged in a hurricane. Not only will you need this information when you file an insurance claim, but you can also use it to prove losses identified on your income tax.
5. Heed the Authorities: If local emergency officials ask residents to evacuate, you must listen and obey their instructions. If you cannot leave your home due to an injury or illness, reach out to loved ones first and then the authorities well in advance of the storm to plan a route to safety.
At Winter Springs Roofing & Repair in Longwood, FL, we are also Florida residents and know firsthand the devastating impact hurricanes can have on our communities. If your roof is damaged because of a storm, we are here to help.