Storms can Lead to Water Damage: How to Prepare

2/23/2023 (Permalink)

Year after year, the frequency and severity of bad weather is anyone’s guess. Unfortunately, many homeowners encounter property damage due to storms. While it is difficult to control the weather, there is much that you can do to ensure your home or business is protected. The following are various ways you can minimize property damage during storm season.

1. Store your valuables in a safe

Early preparation is pivotal when it comes to ensuring that your valuables are safe during a storm. Apart from boarding up your house, pacing to keep all your items safe before a storm can be a hectic endeavor. It is advisable to store important documents inside zip-top bags and then in a watertight storage container. The container should be kept high above the ground to avoid water damage. In case you have artwork, jewelry, or heirlooms, consider having them documented and insured before keeping them in a warehouse.

2. Ensure proper sealing of windows and doors

Wind requires a small crevice or opening to get beneath something like a siding or shingle then rip it off. Sometimes in the event of tornadic winds, a crevice in your doors and windows could break and allow enough wind to damage your building’s roof. It is important to ensure that doors and windows are sealed properly to avoid this.

3. Trim or cut your trees

Trimming renders some sort of preventive care for trees during intense storms. Powerful winds can cause the large branches or the tree itself to fall on your roof and compromise the structural integrity of your home. The trees and the branches can also cause shingles or tiles to crack. If your trees are near your neighbors, take precautions and trim them as it could damage their buildings and land you in trouble.

4. Ensure you are equipped with a standby electrical source

Finally, it is important to remember that electrical lines are often susceptible to storm damage. Falling branches and trees can dismantle power lines and lightning strikes can blow up electrical transformers causing power outages. Therefore, consider installing a surge protector to offer protection to your electrical gadgets against unprecedented voltage spikes. You should also have a generator around to keep you going in case there will be extended electricity outages.

Stay safe!