South Carolina’s hurricane season officially kicked off on June 1 and will continue until the end of November. As you know, these powerful storms can bring destructive winds, torrential rain and coastal flooding, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. Now is the time to take proactive steps to protect your home and family. There’s a lot you can do to minimize potential damage to your home and to prepare your family to make a quick escape to safety if necessary. Here are some actions to take to get your home hurricane-ready.
7 Steps To Prepare Your Home and Family for a Hurricane
- Have Your Roof Inspected
Damaged or missing shingles provide a weak point for the wind and blowing rain to lift them and penetrate the protective materials underneath, causing damage to the roof coverings and allowing water into your home. A thorough inspection by a professional roofing contractor identifies any problem areas and allows them to perform the necessary repairs. - Inspect Your Trees
Old, damaged or diseased trees, as well as those with overhanging limbs near your house, are a serious risk to your roof and home during a storm. Overhanging limbs being whipped by high winds can tear up your roof without actually separating from the tree. Look for signs of disease or damage in the trees around your home, and have suspect ones removed and overhanging branches trimmed. - Cover Your Doors and Windows
Entryways are highly vulnerable to high winds and flying debris, and once breached, it allows blowing water and debris to enter the home and destroy the interior. Installing storm shutters is one of the best ways to protect against hurricanes and severe storms. An alternative is to keep sheets of plywood ready to be attached before a storm arrives. - Stock Up on Tarps
In the aftermath of a storm, stores will quickly run out of tarps as people rush to buy them up. Make sure you have enough tarps to cover your roof and your outbuildings if you do experience damage. - Prepare a Family Emergency Kit
After a hurricane your power and water might be out for days. Make sure you have plenty of items like flashlights, a radio, batteries, extra medications, a first aid kit, food and bottled water, cash, tools, and anything else you think you could use. Also consider keeping a “bug-out” bag handy in case you have to leave the area quickly. - Create an Evacuation Plan
Sit down with your family and go over exactly where you will go or meet up, and how you will communicate. Always include a backup plan, and make sure each family member knows what to do. - Review Your Insurance Policy
Make sure it offers comprehensive insurance coverage for storm-damaged roofs and other hurricane damage, and check what the deductibles are.
The team at Adams & Coe is always ready to help residents of Anderson, SC, after a storm with emergency roof repair and disaster restoration. Contact us whenever you need us.