Everyone has heard the buzz about how powerful Hurricane Sandy was and how it impacted the Mid-Atlantic region. What will the next hurricane that hits be like? This hurricane season, expect extremely strong winds and heavy rains to hit your home. That means it’s going to get wet — very wet! Even if your home isn’t a waterfront property, hurricanes and tropical storms can wreak havoc. NOW is the time to be proactive. By following these simple steps, you will be prepared once the next hurricane comes knocking on your door.
Put coverings over all windows and glass doors.
Place shutters or other coverings over your windows to prevent water or flying debris from making its way inside. If you live in a low lying area, you may also want to create a temporary retaining wall to hold any standing water away from your basement window wells.
Look for cracks and leaks in your basement.
Tiny cracks may not seem like a cause for concern, but once water begins to seep in you’ve got a big problem on your hands. Water can find its way into your home from cracks as small as 3/8 of an inch. Once finding these cracks, be sure to repair them immediately.
Look over your homeowner’s insurance.
Believe it or not, not every home insurance policy covers flooding. With a hectic hurricane season ahead, this is something that should be taken care of right away. You can learn more about flood insurance by visiting the website of The National Flood Insurance Program.
Make an emergency kit.
An emergency kit is vital in any natural disaster situation. Your kit should include:
- Bottled Water
- Non-Perishable Food
- Flashlights with extra batteries
- Copies of important documents like your ID, Driver’s License, and Birth Certificate
- First Aid Items
- Cell Phone with extra batteries and/ or a charger.
Find an entire list of essential items for your emergency kit here.
Hurricanes and tropical storms can be a stressful time for any homeowner. No matter if you live in the city, in the suburbs, or by the water, your home can still be at risk from hurricane damage. By following these few steps and being prepared, you can help ensure that your home and your family will be able to face whatever the next hurricane has planned.
If your basement does flood, however, Ameri-Dry is standing by ready to help you. Visit our website online at ameri-dry.com or via your mobile phone, and call us at (800) 580-1964 if you find yourself in a flood situation.
Ameri-Dry Waterproofing
With over 30 years of basement waterproofing experience, Ameri-Dry offers patented, permanently dry systems that are backed by a full lifetime warranty. For more information about Ameri-Dry and Ameri-Dry Guy, visit our website (ameri-dry.com).
Photo credits: Top © Olly / Fotolia. Middle © Iriana Shiyan / Fotolia. Bottom © Johnny Lye / Fotolia.
Braden Bills says
February 5, 2016 at 12:00 pmI recently moved to an area where hurricanes are a threat. I wasn’t sure if our basement was protected, so I decided to do some research to figure it out. Thank goodness I did, because now I know that it’s not waterproof. I’m calling someone to help ASAP.
Pancho Cham says
May 2, 2016 at 11:15 amAs the stormy weather rolls in I want to be sure that I’m ready for anything water related to hit my home. I’ll make sure that my basement and home are waterproof. That way I can protect my basement, and I can even prevent water damage to my home’s foundation. That way my home can be ready for almost anything.
Braden Bills says
May 17, 2016 at 9:55 amI’ve been trying to figure out how I can keep my home safe. Hurricane season is coming up, and I don’t want to have tons of water damage. I’ll make sure I look for cracks and leaks in my basement. That way I can make sure that they are fixed before any storms happen! Thank you for sharing.
Jessie Harrison says
June 29, 2016 at 10:17 amWhile I’ve lived in my home I’ve only experienced two hurricanes. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t happen again for a while. That’s why I want to take time now to get my home waterproofed. I will leave it to the professional, but I hope they do what you said and put coverings over the windows and fix the leaks and cracks around the house.
Wade Joel says
July 14, 2016 at 1:59 pmHurricanes can cause a lot of damage. I know they can also flood out your entire home too. I did not know that cracks in the foundation could let water in, I will have to go check mine right now.
Kenneth Gladman says
August 22, 2016 at 3:01 pmI like that you mentioned having an emergency kit handy. You never know what could happen in the event of a hurricane or flood, it is a huge advantage to have emergency prep items. I think it is important to have one even if you don’t live in a hurricane prone area.
Max Jones says
April 3, 2017 at 5:18 pmI think that its huge to look for cracks or leaks in the basement. We’ve had our basement flood multiple times, and it is not a fun cleanup! I think if we find any cracks we’re going to be calling a professional waterproofing company, because they would probably catch cracks we would miss!