Storms are generally not as severe as hurricanes. Unless you hear an evacuation alert in your area, staying indoors and protecting your home from storm damage are usually all you need to do. As soon as you hear a storm warning, you should, however, do the following to secure your home.
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Check Your Supplies – Make a quick inventory of your pantry, and ensure that you have enough water and non-perishable food for a couple of days. Note that in case of power loss, you should cook or consume meat, fish and dairy in your refrigerator within four hours. Charge your phones, computers and flashlights, and have spare batteries handy.
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Clear Dead Tree Limbs – If you have trees in your yard, inspect your roof, and clear dead tree limbs and branches in contact with your roof as they can poke the surface of your roof and cause holes that lead to roofing leaks. Such major leaks may require extensive repairs from a storm damage company.
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Reinforce Your Windows – Storm shutters are not just decorative; they actually help prevent impact damage from extreme winds and airborne debris. You may have heard about putting tape on your windows to further minimize damage, but this only allows window glass to break into bigger, more dangerous pieces. Lacking other options, you can board up your windows using at least 5/8-inch thick plywood. If your windows were installed recently, they should have enough protection against water intrusion.
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Clean the Gutters – Clean and free-flowing gutters can help mitigate potential damage to your house foundations by preventing pooling water around the house. Gutter care requires climbing the roof, so you’ll need to have it cleaned by a professional ahead of time.
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Shut Off the Power, Gas and Water – Once you have confirmation that the storm will hit within the next few hours, start shutting off the gas, water and power. After the storm has passed, do not immediately turn them back on. Check for leaks and downed lines, and wait for safety warnings. If your home is flooded or has sustained damage to the roof, call a storm damage restoration company as well as your insurance provider as soon as possible.
Our experts at Dynasty Restoration Inc. can help you recover from storm damage and work with you during the insurance claims process. To learn more about our services, call us today at (402) 205-2877.
