Residents of the East Coast worry about hurricanes. States like Florida and New York are likely to get slammed by at least six hurricanes every year. When Hurricane Irma hit the Florida keys, the cost of damages to homes was estimated to be between $25 billion to $38 billion. In Utah, you get extreme winters, which can damage your pipes or your roof. The Midwest has tornadoes that can blow away entire houses in one swoop.
If you want to do the best that you can to prepare your home for extreme weather conditions, the following discussion provides a few insights.
Damage from Heavy Rains
Even low-level storms bring with it heavy rains and strong winds. One of the first things you need to be concerned about is your roof. Before the storm season starts, make sure that you have inspected your roof. Clean the gutter and remove any leaves that can clog the drain. Inspect the shingles and make sure that they are still firmly fixed. If you find that some are loose, nail them down. Not a single shingle should be loose.
Your garage pavement driveway and other cemented areas can also be damaged by heavy rain over the years. Consider applying concrete sealing like epoxy coating or similar material for more extended protection, not only from heavy downpours but from chemical stains and surface abrasions.
Snowy Attacks
Just like heavy rain, snow and extreme cold can wreak havoc on your home. In a matter of minutes, thick snow can weigh down heavily on your roof. Your water pipes might also freeze. Prevent ice dams by making sure that your gutter is clean. An ice dam forms when the snow melts in the morning and then freezes again at night. The ice dam puts stress on your gutter and roof, which can cause severe damage to your roof.
Take care of your pipes. The extreme cold can freeze and expand water inside your duct. This expansion will crack the pipe. Experts suggest that you should drain sprinkler and external faucets of excess water. Apply insulators to your external faucets and pipes. Another critical step to take is to check the location of your shut-off valve.
Twister Power
The big ones, as we’ve seen in movies and reality TV shows and documentaries, can be up to a mile wide and packing crazy wind speeds. Just like in a hurricane situation, you need to secure your roof. Roofs can quickly fly, so you need to add clips to your roof to secure them properly onto the trusses. You can delegate this task to professionals. Debris will slam at your doors and windows. Protect yourself from these projectiles by reinforcing your windows with boards. Visit your local home depot for the appropriate storm shutters. Consider installing high tech storm proof doors that can withstand the blow of 250 mph wind speed.
You must look after your property during extreme weather conditions. But always remember that it’s your safety and that of your family, which matters the most. Assign roles to family members, especially if there are little ones. Identify a safe place in your home where everyone should gather safely. And when the authorities make a call for the public to evacuate, heed the call.
