How to Hurricane Proof Your Home?

Hurricanes can destroy your home, but making it hurricane-proof can protect it. This guide teaches you how to safeguard your house from storms. Act now, don’t wait. Secure your home with Big Easy Roofing‘s assistance. Our team ensures your home can face any storm, from improving your roof to waterproofing and inspections.

Understanding Hurricanes

Hurricanes form in warm equatorial waters and can be devastating. They feature a calm eye but pack winds over 157 mph. Ranked from Category 1 to 5, with 5 being the worst, they can cause deaths, destroy buildings, and lead to huge costs. Knowing about them helps lower their effects.

What is a Hurricane

Hurricanes are powerful storms with lots of rain and wind, starting over warm oceans. They begin when warm air rises, creating a low-pressure spot that draws in cooler air. This air then warms, rises, and starts spinning, forming the storm. The Saffir-Simpson scale rates hurricanes by wind speed to gauge their damage potential and guide warnings.

Common Hurricane Impacts

Hurricane winds can seriously damage homes, tearing off roofs and breaking windows. They also uproot trees and cause floods, damaging homes more. Hurricanes can cut off power for days, disrupt routines, and pose serious risks, including deadly flying debris and building collapses. Staying alert and safe is crucial.

Importance of Preparation

Getting ready for hurricanes is key to minimize harm and keep safe. Starting early to protect your home and stock up on supplies really helps. A solid hurricane plan means you’re ready for the storm and can keep safe from high winds.

Address Home Vulnerabilities

Before a hurricane, prepare your home. Inspect the roof, clear gutters, and install storm shutters or reinforced glass. Strengthen your garage door and trim nearby trees. Secure outdoor items to avoid them getting blown away. Consider getting a sump pump or generator for floods or power outages to lessen storm damage.

Seal Gaps and Openings

To safeguard your home against hurricanes, seal all openings. Use caulk on windows and doors to prevent water entry. Ensure roof vents and skylights are properly sealed to avoid leaks. Fixing these spots cuts down on water damage risk.

Assess Home Elevation

To reduce flood damage, raise your home’s important systems like HVAC and electrical panels, especially if you live in a flood zone. A higher foundation keeps your house and stuff safe from floodwaters.

Check Sump Pump

Always check your sump pump to avoid basement flooding. Keep a battery backup for when power goes out in storms. Doing regular checks keeps it working right when it matters most.

Prepare for Emergencies

Prepare for hurricane season to stay safe. Pack an emergency kit with water, non-perishable food, medicine, flashlights, batteries, and first aid items. Pick a safe spot and fix your home by fixing roofs, windows, and doors, and trimming trees. Follow weather updates and listen to local officials for safety during hurricanes.

Stock Essential Supplies

To stay safe during a hurricane, prepare a survival kit with 3 days’ worth of food and water per person, a first aid kit, flashlights, extra batteries, and a portable charger. Don’t forget your medicines and hygiene items, as stores may close or run out of supplies when the storm comes.

Plan for Pets’ Safety

If you own pets, always have an emergency kit with their food, water, and medicine ready. Find pet-friendly shelters early to avoid stress. Keep your pets’ ID and vaccine papers handy.

Compile Emergency Contacts

Make a list of key contacts, including family, friends, emergency services, your insurance, and utility companies. This helps quickly fix problems like internet or water issues after a storm. Keep your list on your phone and paper to always have it handy.

Inspect the Roof for Loose Shingles

Before hurricane season, inspect your roof for loose or broken shingles to prevent storm damage. Fixing these shingles fast can stop leaks and strengthen your roof, ensuring your home stays safe during hurricanes.

Check Regularly

Inspect your roof twice a year to catch any loose or missing shingles early. Harsh weather can damage it, so finding problems early can help avoid big issues during a hurricane.

Hire Professionals

Hiring a professional is smart because they can find issues you might not see. A roofing expert can check for risks and recommend fixes, helping your home withstand strong winds.

Secure Shingles

If you find loose shingles, glue them down with roofing cement right away. Replace any that are too damaged. Doing this is key to keeping water out of your home during a storm.

Clean Gutters and Downspouts

To protect your home from hurricanes, regularly clean your gutters and downspouts to prevent water overflow and protect your foundation or basement from damage. Clear out leaves and debris before the storm hits.

Regular Maintenance

Gutters shield your house from water harm, especially in hurricanes. Keep them free of stuff like leaves for good drainage. Clean them twice a year and check them before hurricane season. Doing this can prevent expensive damage.

Install Guards

Installing gutter guards is smart. They stop leaves from blocking your gutters, making cleaning easier and ensuring better water flow when it rains hard. You can choose from mesh screens, surface tension helmets, or foam types. Though each has pros and cons, they all ensure your gutters stay clear, making your home more storm-ready.

Trim Trees Near Home

Cutting trees close to your house before a hurricane is key. Hanging branches can become harmful in strong winds, risking your home’s safety. Trimming them reduces damage risk and keeps evacuation routes open. It also helps trees stay healthy and survive the storm. It’s wise to do this before hurricane season to safeguard your home.

Safety Measures

Trimming trees near your home is important to stop branches from flying into your house during a storm or falling on it. Check the trees near your place for any weak, dead, or hanging branches that could be dangerous in strong winds. If cutting them down looks dangerous, get a professional arborist to do it.

Regular Maintenance

Regular tree care is essential to keep them strong and prevent damage. Check your trees twice a year, especially before hurricane season and halfway through. Trim branches that touch your house to avoid pests and damage during storms.

Strategic Pruning

Strategically cutting branches can make trees stronger against hurricanes by lowering wind resistance. Only cut some inner branches so the wind can move through easier. Don’t cut too much, no more than a third of the leaves, to avoid weakening the tree. It’s best to ask an arborist for the right way to do it for each tree.

Get Your Hurricane Roof Protection With Big Easy Roofing!

Hurricane-proofing your home protects your property and family. Strengthen your home and fix weak spots to prepare for hurricanes. Seal gaps, clean gutters, and trim trees to prevent damage. Ensure your home is elevated and secure outdoor items. Start preparing now, not just before a storm hits, to avoid stress and save money. Being proactive helps prevent major damage and keeps your home and family safe from hurricanes. Contact us to start making your home secure. Your safety is Big Easy Fences‘ main goal!