Be proactive and protect your home before the storm hits.
Use this guide to prep your home and yard beforeexcess rain and gusting windsstrike.
Inspect the Roof
Roof inspections should take place about once a year or after any major storm.
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Before a storm hits your home,store any moveable outdoor furnitureand appliances in a shedor garage.
So before any rain falls, end the windows and doors around your home.
Install hurricane shutters or mount plywood over these delicate areas to createa barrier against strong winds and rain.
Credit: Edmund Barr
Hire a professional to install these protectant solutions if you are unsure how to do them yourself.
Before a rainstorm, test the sump pump by pouring water into it.
If the pump doesnt turn on, you may need to have it repaired or replaced.
Credit:Dean Schoeppner
Dean Schoeppner
6.
Inspect your trees regularly to reduce the risk of damage to your home or nearby vehicles during a storm.
Before heavy rain, take the time toprune your treesand remove any loose and dead limbs.
Cover plants with glass or plastic domes,known as cloches, to protect individual plants.
Next, spread a tarp overgroundcovers and low-growing plants.
Drive stakes through the corners and edges of the tarp to keep it in place during the storm.
Prepare a Home Emergency Plan and Kit
Weather doesnt wait until everyone is home and secure.
