How to Protect a Home From a Hurricane

A hurricane is one of Mother Nature’s most deadly creations. This natural phenomenon takes place all over the world and can easily destroy unprotected homes. There are some precautions you can take to defend it against this threat. You will need to do several things to accomplish this and the time (and materials) required for each varies for this reason. The United States has a hurricane season each year that starts in June and continues through November. If you live near a coastal area, you should protect your home against a hurricane.

Things You'll Need

• Ladder
• Tree trimmer
• Measuring tape
• Pen
• Paper
• Hurricane shutters
• Plywood (optional)
• Saw (optional)
• Screws (optional)
• Drill (optional)
• Black marker (optional)
• Garage door (impact resistant)

Instructions

1. Know when to begin your hurricane preparations. It is extremely important to not wait until it is too late to protect your home. A good time to do most of the steps is as soon after there is a hurricane predicted as possible. Some of the prep work can even be done at the beginning of the season. Use common sense to decide when the best time would be for your situation. One of the few “good things” concerning a hurricane is the fact that you do get notified of its arrival several days in advance. This will give you plenty of time to prepare for it.

2. Protect your home from falling trees and branches. During a hurricane the chance of your house getting hit by trees or branches can be decreased. At the beginning of each hurricane season you need to inspect all of the trees surrounding your house. Remove any dead or diseased branches from them or the trees completely, if they are weakened in any way. You can use a tree trimmer and ladder, but be certain to use extreme caution when doing this step. If you are uncertain about it, hire a professional.

3. Ready your home's windows. If your windows break at some point in a hurricane, your house can receive massive damage. You can purchase specially designed hurricane shutters for each of the windows in your house or you can make your own. You will need to have accurate measurements for all windows. Use a measuring tape and make note of each one. Either order the shutters or buy an adequate amount of plywood to make your own. You can have the wood cut when you buy it or if you have a saw, cut it in the needed sizes at home. Use a black marker to note which window the wood is for. It is very easy to get them mixed up when you have several windows around the same size. Use screws and a drill to secure the cut wood to your windows.

4. Secure your garage door. One of the fastest ways for a home to receive damage is from an unsecured garage door. The powerful winds of a hurricane can easily rip it away from your house. Check your door to see if it is up to code. It should have a label with the pressure rating on it. If not, you should either replace the door completely with one that is or use plywood to reinforce it against the wind. It is a good idea to have this done by a reliable professional to ensure it is done properly.

5. Remove items from around your house. This can be done after a hurricane is predicted. Go around your yard and secure or eliminate any objects found. You can store patio furniture in a pool or place it inside. Make sure you also get rid of any trashcans, plants, toys, BBQ items or any thing else that is not wind resistant.

Tips & Warnings

• If a hurricane is predicted, heed all warnings given by your local authorities.