Hurricane season has arrived! If you haven’t prepared your home for potential storms, it is not too late. Many people think that if they don’t live close to the coast, their homes are protected against hurricanes. While hurricanes tend to do significant damage to coastal areas, hurricanes can impact regions up to 100 miles inland, according to Ready.gov.
As you probably already know, Florida is in the direct pathway of many storms. Hurricanes most commonly affect Florida because the state is a peninsula on the southern coast of the United States. The state of Florida is not very wide, which means a single hurricane storm can cover the entire state, affecting the west coast, east coast, and the land in between. Homes located near the coast must be prepared for heavy winds and rain, and storm surge. Homes located inland must be prepared for intense storms that include heavy wind and torrential downpours.
Whether you choose to evacuate during the time of a hurricane or if you plan to ride the storm out, you must make sure your home is prepared for the worst. By doing so, you will be able to stay safe and recover any items lost during the storm.
Here are some ways you can prepare your home for this year’s hurricane season.
Review your insurance policies/ Consider Flood Insurance
In the worst case, your home could be completely destroyed by a hurricane. Of course, we don’t want to think of our home getting destroyed, but you should always be prepared for the worst.
Before each hurricane season, be sure to go over your insurance policies and make sure that, if your home were to be destroyed by a storm, the plan would cover the entire cost of rebuilding your lost home.
When evaluating the policy, consider the fact that most times, it costs more to rebuild a home. Be sure that you won’t be in a financial pickle to cover the cost of rebuilding if your home was lost in a storm.
You might also want to consider adding flood insurance to your insurance policies. Many homeowner’s insurance plans cover damage done by a hurricane, but not the floods that follow in the storm’s pathway.
Document your possessions
It is not uncommon for homeowners to lose belongings during a storm, especially if the home becomes flooded or severely damaged. Before hurricane season, make a list that includes every valuable you own and take a picture of it. This way, if anything needs to be replaced, you have documentation that you owned, which was lost. This will help you when it comes time to file a claim.
Double-check your roof
Can you imagine your home going through a hurricane without a roof? The result would likely be a completely totaled home. With strong winds higher than 100mph, the roof would be the first thing to go. The roof is the most significant potential opening on the house, and once the roof is gone, your home and everything inside the home goes with it.
Before hurricane season, examine your roof to ensure all the shingles are secure, and none are missing. If you think you need a new roof, it might be a good idea to have a professional take a look at it.
Check the seals around windows and doors
During a hurricane, it pours rain, and because of the strong winds, rain often goes in several directions. Even the slightest crack in window or door seals could cause significant water damage. If you do have an opening in a seal, make sure it is secured as soon as possible.
Clear your property
Before a hurricane, make sure all outdoor furniture is brought inside, as well as any free standing objects in the yard. With the strong winds of a hurricane, whatever is left outdoors will end up long gone or even smash through your home or vehicle.
Stock up on dry food
With bad hurricanes, it could be a week or two before you can even leave your house. And of course, you cannot leave your home in the middle of the hurricane to go to the grocery store. Be sure that you have plenty of dry food, like rice and oats, in the event you run out of perishables and refrigerated foods.
Stock up on candles and flashlights
During strong hurricanes, power can go out for up to 2 weeks! It is always a good idea to have plenty of candles and batteries for a flashlight so you can make your way through the dark if needed.
Make sure you have access to clean water
Hurricanes can contaminate the public water supply, especially with bad storm surge. Drinking contaminated water can cause illness, and is not safe to drink.
You should always have a supply of water bottles, but you should also consider having a water filtration system in your home. Not only will a water filtration system ensure you are drinking clean drinking water, it will also provide water that can be used for a variety of tasks throughout your home, including bathing, cooking, and cleaning purposes.
The Science of Water
Here at The Science of Water, we are here to help Florida residents prepare their homes for hurricane season. We can install a water filtration system in your home so you can ensure you have access to clean water in your home.
The only way to know if your water is safe to consume is to have it tested. At The Science of Water, we are happy to provide you with a free water test.
The Science of Water is proud to serve the Jacksonville and Gainesville, Florida area to ensure the water in your home is safe for you and your family. This hurricane season, take these tips into consideration and of course, evacuate your home if it is recommended.
Stay safe this hurricane season!
To learn more about the water in your home and how we can help, check out our latest blogs!