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Article Series:
Home Emergency Preparation Tips &
Family Disaster Plans
There’s
a Hurricane Coming: What Do I Do?
If you want to save your home from a great
deal of damage during a hurricane, experts say you
have to prepare the home for strong winds. The areas where wind can
enter your home are the most crucial areas to pay attention
to when retrofitting your home for a hurricane. By reinforcing
certain areas of the exterior, you can strengthen it and reduce
wind and debris damage. It will also prevent large areas of
your home to be torn away. Most of these options should be
planned far before a hurricane warning is in effect, so go
ahead and start planning today!
Experts will tell you that there are several main areas you
should concentrate upon when trying to reinforce your home.
The roof is a great place to start. If you have a gabled roof,
then you certainly need to make sure your gable end walls are
reinforced. You can easily do this by using truss bracing.
Contact your local housing or building office for your city
to get more information on securing your roof structure. Another
thing to pay attention to is your roof’s shingle system. It
is likely the shingles on your roof are not strong enough for
a hurricane. You can always use quick drying cement glue to
strengthen their bond to your roof.
Another area to tend to is the glass in your home. All
windows and glass areas should be covered when a hurricane
is expected. You can install impact-resistance shutters for windows and
doors. These are perfect for protecting your windows and doors
and are also great for protecting your home from debris. You
can also get windows that are made of plastic bonded to glass.
These are great and are being installed in many new homes.
To make sure your shutters work for the storm, be sure you
are installing and securing them correctly. If you don’t, they
may not be any better than having nothing at all.
Doors
are another area to think about when planning for a hurricane. If you have solid wood or hollow metal doors, they
will probably be fine through the storm. Any other doors however
should be reinforced. You can always visit your local tool
shop and purchase head and foot bolts on the inactive door
if you have double-entry doors. This will help make them stronger.
You can also make sure your door is equipped with a dead bolt
system and make sure your hinges are tight and secure. If you
still think your door is not strong enough, you should put
a new door on your list of priorities.
You can always ask
the experts at your local home improvement stores for advice on other ways to weatherproof your home in
case of a hurricane. They will be able to instruct you on what
items you will need and the process of using them. You may
even be able to hire local workers to do the work for you,
if you desire a more professional approach to the project.
Again, these safety precautions are those that should be thought
of well in advance of a hurricane warning. If you wait
until the last possible moment to go purchase items you need
for
these tasks, chances are the stores will have already sold
out. So, each season be sure to check these items and restock
as necessary. It will help you feel more confident and secure
if a hurricane warning occurs. Instead of rushing around frantically
like other neighbors, you can get your things in order and
sit calmly to wait for the storm.
Remember,
protecting your home not only saves your possessions, but
it can also save you. By reinforcing the building in which
you dwell, you are ensuring that you will be as protected from
the storm as possible. This is the main reason reinforcing
your home is so important. You should always have these items
up to date or handy if you live in a hurricane prominent area.
By being responsible with your home and your protection, you
will be less afraid of these horrible storms. So, check these
areas of your home yourself, or hire a professional to do it
for you. No matter what, be sure to have these things complete
well before the next “hurricane season” arrives.
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
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