Prepare for the Next Hurricane

7/14/2021 (Permalink)

Take steps to prepare for a hurricane and you'll better protect your family and your home or business from injury and damage.

’Tis the season … the hurricane season, that is. Seems like it starts earlier each year, and is busier, too, with stronger storms. That means you should take weather forecasts seriously and be prepared to protect your home and family from a powerful windstorm. Follow the basic guidelines in this article, and you’ll be ready to handle a hurricane.

Get Your Home or Business Ready

You want to make sure your home or business facility is able to withstand high winds and wind-driven rain. Pay attention to these four areas to prepare for a hurricane.

• Roof: Roofs are particularly vulnerable to strong winds, and a damaged roof will allow water to enter your home or building. Before the storm, check your roof to make sure that no shingles are missing or damaged. You may want to hire a roofing pro to examine your roof and replace or repair any weak areas.
• Gutters: To help prevent flooding, make sure your gutters are in good shape, secured to the structure and not clogged. A roofing professional can take care of this, too.
• Windows: Consider adding hurricane shutters to your windows to protect them from strong winds. As an alternative, you can cover windows and doors with sheets of plywood secured to the frames.
• Exterior: Hurricane-force winds will turn unsecured objects into projectiles, causing more damage if they strike your home or business. Bring garbage cans, furniture and other large objects inside if possible or lash them down.

Get Your Family Ready

A storm brings with it the possibility of injury or illness. You should have on hand a fully-stocked emergency kit that can keep your family safe for at least several days. It should include:

• First aid supplies
• Flashlights with batteries
• Fully charged cell phones
• Pain relievers and medications taken regularly
• Important paperwork (for identification and to file insurance claims, if necessary)
• Cash

A power outage, often lasting many days to a week or more, frequently accompanies a strong windstorm like a hurricane. Prepare to hunker down and survive several days without power by taking these steps:

• Have on hand a minimum of three days’ (and up to two weeks) worth of canned and nonperishable food.
• Set aside a gallon of water per person per day.
• Set your refrigerator and freezer to the coldest temperature before the storm hits. A closed refrigerator keeps food safe for 4 hours, and a full freezer will keep food frozen for 48 hours.

If your home or business suffers damage from a windstorm or other natural disaster, call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield today at 860.649.0836

We’re Here for You

The team at SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield has specialized training and experience in natural disaster and storm damage cleanup, water damage remediation, fire restoration services and chemical cleanup. Call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield (860.649.0836) any time.

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If your home or business suffers damage from a windstorm or other natural disaster, call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield today at 860.649.0836