Benjamin Franklin wrote, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Many people quote him on this in regard to health even though his original words were about fire safety. It also fits well for Central Florida homeowners as we prepare for summer storms and hurricane season. Even though we all know we have to be ready every year, it is amazing how many people do not have a plan in place or the needed supplies should a disaster occur. Over the standard check off list for water and supplies (more in depth checklist you can find here https://www.stateofflorida.com/articles/hurricane-preparedness-guide.aspx
Here are 5 ways and tips to prepare your home over a weekend:
- Make sure you have digital photos of your home before the storms come and upload them to a cloud based site like Google photos in case your phone gets damaged. If your home does receive damage in a hurricane, before and after photos will expedite any necessary insurance claims.
- Protect areas where air/wind can enter your home. Damage occurs more often from wind through an opening in the home. Taping windows does not secure them, so take some time to research and consider installing approved hurricane shutters or ways to board up windows with plywood.
- Some of our summer storms can be just as damaging as hurricanes so keep outdoor living spaces clean and clutter free. In the event of a hurricane, move all plants and furniture inside as they can be dangerous projectiles in hurricane winds.
- Trim trees and remove all leaves and debris from gutters to prevent both flying debris and flooding.
- Have all outdoor power equipment ready and extra fuel with safety glasses and gloves in one area so that if trees or large limbs need to be removed – you are ready.
One more thing… please don’t forget about Fido or Kitty. There are special check lists available for your pets safety as well as yours.
If you have any quick tips, we would love for you to share them as well.
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