How to Get Your House Prepared For Hurricane Season
With the 2022 hurricane season fast approaching (it begins June 1), it’s time for Carolina homeowners to start thinking about how to prepare their houses for the potential threat. Coastal residents of both North Carolina and South Carolina can be affected by hurricane-force storms throughout the annual hurricane season.
Whether you’re a seasoned resident of the Atlantic coast or you’ve just moved to the region, the information in this guide will help you get your house prepared for whatever bad weather lies ahead.
Be aware and informed – The more you know about the current weather situation in your region of North Carolina or South Carolina, the easier it will be for you to deal with whatever is coming your way. Regularly watching your local news, national stations like The Weather Channel, and setting alerts on your smartphone via the National Weather Service are all great ways to stay informed and alert about the potential for a hurricane to make landfall in the Carolinas.
Bring lightweight outdoor items inside – If you’re like most Carolinians, you and your family enjoy outdoor living, especially during the warm summer season. Unfortunately, summertime and hurricane season coincide with one another, which means you need to be careful about which items get left outside.
Lightweight things, such as outdoor kids’ toys, lawn chairs, and table umbrellas can all blow around and cause extreme damage during hurricanes due to the swirling wind motion. Therefore, it is incredibly important to store these types of items inside, especially if inclement weather is anticipated in your area. It is, however, good to simply get in the habit of indoor storage regardless.
Perform the necessary maintenance – Believe it or not, low-hanging tree branches and improperly maintained gutters can lead to some of the worst damage during a hurricane. Branches can result in severe roof damage (or even fly through a window and harm a person) and clogged gutters can prevent rain from draining properly even when the storm subsides. Because of this, it is imperative to have your gutters cleaned regularly and schedule periodic professional tree trimming.
Stat well-stocked with necessities – Although Carolina residents usually have some warning when it comes to hurricanes, it’s still smart to stay well-stocked with the items you know you and your family will need. Canned goods and other non-perishables should be kept on hand, for example. If you have small children, make sure you have plenty of diapers, wipes, formula, and other essentials. Finally, it is wise to keep a full gas can or two in your garage or basement and to have cash available in case credit card machines go down during a storm.
Invest in storm shutters – Many coastal Carolina homes already have storm shutters. If, however, you haven’t had these installed, you should consider doing so. Not only are storm shutters more aesthetically appealing than 2×4 planks, but they are much more efficient. Nailing boards over your windows during every potential hurricane-level storm can get tedious. Storm shutters completely eliminate the need to do this.
Hopefully these tips will help you and your family stay safe during the upcoming 2020 hurricane season. If you do experience damage, however, the team at Hatch Homes is here for you. Our exterior renovation experts can do everything from roof installations to window replacements to siding jobs, so don’t hesitate to call us whenever you need our services. We proudly handle projects in both North Carolina and South Carolina.