Is Your Home Ready for a Hurricane?

Is your house ready for the impending Hurricane Florenc e approaching the cost and storm expected in the triad coming this weekend? There are lots of preparedness sites and lists for you can reference for yourself or family which include everything from water and non-perishable food items to flashlights and battery operated radios. With heavy storms you will want to prepare your home as well. Here are some tips that may help your house weather the storm.

Water is your home’s worst enemy. With Winston Salem and the triad predicted to receive heavy rainfall the best thing you can do is to protect your home from water. Here are eight things to help keep your home dry.

1. Clean out your gutters of debris and make sure they are removing water from the foundation of your home.
2. Seal cracks in mortar and siding to prevent moisture penetration.
3. Make sure the soil around your home is graded away from the foundation of your house
4. Check exterior electrical outlets and switches to see if they are approved for outdoor use and protected from water.
5. Repair damaged or loose shingles.
6. Verify all windows and doors are shut.
7. If you have a generator, make sure you have gas.
8. If you have a basement with a sump pump, verify that it’s working.
9. You may want to check with your insurance professional on whether there is a rider for sump pump equipped homes that offers additional coverage for basement flooding.
10. You may want to purchase a battery backup for your sump pump so it’s still going strong despite a potential power outage.
11. If you will be out of town, turn off your water main.
12. Have a dehumidifier, towels, shop vacuum(ok for water use), and fan on hand to help immediately remove water and excessive moisture.

In the event that you do have an issue with moisture penetration during the storm that may need professional assistance, call your local cleanup and restoration specialist immediately. With heavy rains many houses, especially with basements, are flooded. The sooner you call the higher up your house will be on the response list. The sooner you are able to remove water and excessive moisture from the house the lower your chances are for mold and mildew and the less you may spend at the end of the day in repairs.

With saturated grounds and winds trees are more likely to lose limbs or fall. If you have a tree down on your home call your local bonded and insured tree specialist immediately to prevent additional damage. They also get booked quickly after a storm and many operate on a first come first serve basis.

If you are a Pro Realty Group client and you need to be connected with a great professional, we’d be happy to help you care for your investment and home. We’ve worked with many restoration and tree specialist on our personal home and those of clients. Just give us a call, 336-265-7253.

We hope you and your home have a safe and dry weekend ahead as Hurricane Florence approaches Winston Salem.