Hurricane season lasts from June 1st through November 30th, although storms can occur prior to and after these dates. Every year, hurricanes cause damage to homes and other buildings throughout coastal areas. Hurricane damage during active seasons can reach tens or even hundreds of billions of dollars over the course of several months. The key to protecting your property from hurricane damage is preparation, both before and after the storm. Knowing how to prepare your home for an oncoming storm, as well as the steps to take immediately after a storm to mitigate any damage that may have occurred, will help to minimize any property damage and losses you may suffer.
Types of Hurricane Damage
To achieve classification as a hurricane, a storm must produce sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or greater. These high winds are one of the primary causes of hurricane damage, dislodging any parts of your home that are not securely anchored, as well as subjecting your home to fast-moving debris carried along by the storm. In addition to high winds, hurricanes also produce heavy rains, making flooding another common type of hurricane damage that affects homes both on the coasts and further inland. Hurricanes also produce lightning and hail, which can contribute to both property damage and power outages that may affect electronics and appliances in your home.
Preventing Hurricane Damage
There are many ways to address vulnerabilities in your home’s structure to prepare it for the conditions produced by a hurricane. First, keep yourself up to date on the weather and take action as soon as a hurricane is expected to hit your area. Protecting your home means preventing its protective outer “shell” from becoming breached, so make sure your roof, doors, windows, and siding are all in good condition. Secure your garage door and use storm shutters or plywood to cover your windows for added protection. Whole-house and single-outlet surge protectors can prevent power surges from damaging your electronics, while a sump pump can prevent lower areas of your home from flooding. Elevating sensitive electronics and appliances above the expected flood level can prevent them from sustaining damage if flooding does occur.
Mitigating Hurricane Damage
Hurricanes are unpredictable by nature and even with precautions in place, your property may still sustain damage during a storm. Taking steps as soon as possible after a storm to address any damage you find will help to minimize its effects on your home. If you evacuated your home prior to the storm, perform a thorough inspection from the outside in when you return to determine if and where damage has occurred. If your home is flooded, do not enter it until you are sure the power and gas have been shut off to prevent electrocution and other injuries. Contact a professional service to help you assess and repair the damage caused by flooding, wind, fire, or power loss to prevent or put a stop to issues such as mold growth or deterioration of your home’s flooring, walls, and furnishings.
If your home has been damaged during a storm, professional storm damage mitigation will restore your home to pre-storm condition quickly and with less disruption to your daily life. You can explore our full range of damage mitigation services when you visit us on the web, including fire damage, mold damage, and water damage restoration. You’ll also find more helpful articles on disaster prevention and damage cleanup when you click through the articles on our blog.