Who doesn’t love summer? It’s the perfect time to relax and have fun with family and friends, and take that dream vacation. It’s also the season to focus on home improvement projects, including preparing your home for unpredictable summer storms and the dangers that come with them. Getting your home ready for extreme weather conditions is something that shouldn’t be put off. When the weatherman reports that a storm’s on the way, it may be too late to start preparing and protecting your home. In this three-part post, we’ll walk you through storm preparation and safety tips that will help ensure your home is ready to face the potentially destructive effects of summer storms.
PART I IN & AROUND YOUR HOME
Your house should be structurally sound and your entire yard secured to be well-prepared for the potentially destructive effects of summer storms. Here are the primary measures that you should take to make sure that your home can handle a summer storm’s beating.
TRIM BACK TREES
Fallen branches are among the most common causes of structural damage during strong storms. This type of damage can also be expensive. Even though homeowners insurance policies generally cover tree removal and related damage, it may only pay between $500 and $1,000, leaving you with a big chunk of the bill. If there are trees around your home, have a tree removal specialist or arborist check the condition of each: will it potentially break or be uprooted in the event of a severe storm? If you are not open to the idea of cutting a tree down entirely, have the professional check for branches that need to be removed instead.
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CLEANING THE GUTTERS
Gutter cleaning is an important home maintenance task that is very easy to neglect. Many people are not aware of the problems that can stem from not keeping their gutters clean and clear. Although gutters are attached to the roof, their primary purpose is to protect your home’s siding, foundation and landscape from water damage and flooding. If you do not clean your gutters, chances are they will eventually become clogged by leaves, twigs, pine needles and other debris. During a storm, this forces water to pour over the side of the house or seep underneath the roof instead of flowing toward the downspouts. If gutter cleaning is not your thing and you find hiring someone to clean it for you an unnecessary expense, installing a quality gutter protection system can solve your dilemma. Read up on gutter guard reviews to know how these systems can make gutter cleaning a thing of the past.
CHECK FOR CRACKS AND WEAK SPOTS
It is best to have a professional inspect your home for cracks in the walls and foundation. Water can get through those gaps and into your home, further weakening the foundation. What’s the worst that could happen if you don’t get those cracks sealed up? Basement flooding and, in the long run, extensive water damage and moisture-related problems. Additionally, check that your windows and doors are adequately weatherproofed. You should also have your roof checked for leaks and damaged or missing shingles or tiles, as well as damaged flashings. Otherwise, wind-driven rain can easily seep through them and cause interior water damage.
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SECURE YOUR YARD
Secure outdoor furniture and lawn ornaments so the wind doesn’t turn them into projectiles that smash into your siding and windows. Loose items such as toys and chairs should be kept indoors. Larger items like trampolines may be secured by ropes.
In the next blog, we’ll talk about what you can do to prepare for the worst-case scenarios that summer storms can bring.
PART II PREPARING FOR THE WORST
Inspecting your home, making repairs in advance and securing your belongings are the best steps you can take to safeguard your home from the destructive effects of a severe summer storm. However, there are certain things that will be out of your control. Here are additional preparation measures to take in case the worst happens.
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HAVE A GENERATOR ON STANDBY
Extreme storms can cause extensive power outages. Aside from keeping your family comfortable and safe by providing backup power for lights and essential appliances, a generator is also helpful in other ways. It can keep your sump pump and HVAC running. You may even get a discount from your insurance company if you install an automatic standby generator, which is connected to the gas or propane line and turns on once it detects a power outage. If you do not have a propane line, a portable generator can prove to be a useful and less expensive alternative.
GET A BACKUP FOR YOUR SUMP PUMP
An overload of the local stormwater system is another potentially devastating situation to get prepared for. When this happens, water and sewage can back up into your house. The same could happen if your sump pump stops working in the instance of a power outage. To prevent flooding in your basement and related damage, consider getting a battery backup for your sump pump. You may also opt to get another battery-powered sump pump for doubled capacity. Take note that sewage backup is typically not covered by homeowners insurance policies, but you may be allowed to purchase additional coverage in case of such an event. We’ll look into this in the next part of this series.
THE EMERGENCY KIT
Regardless of the season, it’s always a great idea to have an emergency kit ready. A battery-operated radio, flashlights, batteries and a phone that isn’t dependent on electricity could come in very handy. A first-aid kit is an essential. Your kit should consist of commonly used over-the-counter medicines
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such as ibuprofen, as well as wound cleansing and dressing items. In addition, the Red Cross recommends stocking a three-day amount of food and water for everyone in your household. You should also keep some cash at home in case ATMs go offline or run out of juice.
THE “GO” KIT
Besides the emergency kit, it is also advised to put together a box or portable file that you can grab in case you need to evacuate quickly. This kit should include important documents such as insurance policies, a home inventory, bank statements and documents, extra keys, and other pertinent personal and financial records and documents. No one can predict exactly how a summer storm will affect your home. In the next blog, we’ll take a look at an important aspect of preparation: insurance.
PART III HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE: ARE YOU ADEQUATELY COVERED?
We can’t stress this enough: summer storms, like any other weather disturbance, can wreak havoc on your home. The extent of the damage is something that no one can predict, but one thing is for sure—recovery and rehabilitation aren’t cheap. This is where a homeowners insurance policy saves the day. See what you can do to ensure you make the most out of your policy.
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CHECK YOUR POLICY
Reviewing your policy and knowing exactly what it covers should be done long before you hear the announcement of a storm coming. You should double-check if you have an ACV or RCV policy. ACV stands for “actual cash value.” A policy of this kind pays for the current market value of your property minus depreciation. Such policies are typically cheaper, but not very valuable. On the other hand, RCV means “replacement cost value.” These policies pay for the current market value of your losses.
CONSIDER ADDITIONAL COVERAGE
As mentioned earlier, it isn’t unusual for sump pumps to stop working in cases of power outage and for storm water systems to be overburdened in the middle of a storm. These scenarios can cause water and, worse, sewage to back up into your basement. The damage can be very destructive, unpleasant and expensive to repair. Homeowners insurance does not usually cover sewage backup, but you can opt to purchase a rider. It generally costs from $50 to $75 for coverage ranging from $10,000 to $20,000. Furthermore, if you find that flood damage is not covered by your existing insurance policy, you can purchase a policy from the National Flood Insurance Program. Prices range from $200 to $2,000 a year, depending on how flood-prone your area is.
CONDUCT A HOME INVENTORY
If your house gets damaged or destroyed by a severe storm, chances are you won’t be able to remember everything that you owned, and tracing receipts will likely be out of the question. If you haven’t, now is the time to create an inventory of all your belongings. To make the job manageable, focus on documenting the contents of one room at a time. Whenever you buy or replace a valuable item, take the time to update your inventory.
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Why do you need this inventory? Having it prepared in advance will help speed up the insurance claims process. Make sure you have a copy of the inventory in your emergency “go” kit (discussed in the previous blog), as well as saved online so you can access it anytime. As the old saying goes, “a stitch in time saves nine,” and this is especially applicable to storm preparations. It is always better to be prepared than caught off-guard. So what are you waiting for? Start looking for a reliable gutter protection service today, or take inventory of your belongings. Every little step you take can go a long way toward ensuring the safety of your home and family.
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