North Carolina is one of the most heavily impacted states in the country with regard to hurricanes. That why it is essential to prepare your home for the storm season. Making the necessary precautions can be the difference in having to only replace a few shingles or having to have major home restoration. The primary inland hazards from hurricanes are flooding from heavy rains, destructive winds, tornadoes.
Our waterproofing specialists have compiled several tips to help you better prepare your Raleigh area home for hurricane season.
Basic Tips for General Hurricane Preparedness
First and foremost, preparation is the key to remaining safe during any major storm.
This means securing loose outdoor furniture, possibly boarding up windows and other exterior preparations. De-clutter drains and gutters.
Anchor unsafe objects like propane tanks, grills, lumber and other items that can become flying projectiles or worse.
Contact your insurance company to make sure you have the right coverage in place.
Having supplies for days and even up to two weeks in some cases is a solid plan in case of power outages or other inconveniences to resupplying your home after a storm.
This means having adequate supplies of:
- – Water
- – Medication
- – Foods
- – Clothes
- – Linens, towels and sanitary hygiene items
- – Batteries and adequate charges on all electrical devices
- – Flashlights and other tools
- – Copies of important documents
- – A list of important contacts
- – Evacuation routes and locations of emergency shelters or hospitals
Learn Your Areas Flood Potential
Know the historical impact of your area to have a good idea of your potential impact from a hurricane or tropical storm.
If your area has a tendency to flood, this is a time for extra precaution. Flash floods are deadly and can spring up in hilly areas, flooding the valleys with seemingly small amounts of rainfall. Combine that with heavy downpours from hurricanes, and you have potential for disaster.
Going the Extra Mile to Protect Your Home from Hurricane Damage
Know the vulnerability of your home.
Homes with basements and secure interior rooms are great for waiting out heavy storms but take precaution regarding your sheltering especially if you live in a floodplain. The next best protection is a small, interior, windowless room in a sturdy building on the lowest level that is not subject to flooding.
By making your home more flood resistant and securing your home or shelter to withstand heavy winds is solid investment.
To reduce your risk of flooding:
Install sump pumps and alarms for water intrusion. Installing battery backups is a good secondary precaution.
Install check valves in plumbing to prevent backups in sewer lines to prevent back flow into the home.
If you have a basement, consider basement waterproofing to keep saturated soil and runoff from causing water seepage into your home. If you have a crawl space, consider crawl space waterproofing to keep water and moisture from sitting under your home and causing damage.
Reduce wind damage:
Reinforce door locks and hinges
Board up windows
Secure your roof by strapping it to the house frame. Special straps called “hurricane straps” are available at your local hardware store.
Hurricane Season is Underway
Hurricane season is in full swing, but the most active months are still coming up ahead. September is peak hurricane time around North Carolina and now is the perfect time to start prepping your home for any potential storms.
If your home does sustain water damage from a storm, we can also help you with this. We offer water damage repair services and are also licensed mold remediation specialists, which allows us to provide more comprehensive services.
Consult with a Basement and Crawlspace Waterproofing Specialist
Your home should be prepared for any storm that might cause damage. That is why contacting the waterproofing specialists of Crawl Space & Basement Technologies is a decision that will benefit you for years to come.
Give our Raleigh waterproofing team a call at 919-847-7072 or complete the online contact form to help prepare your home for hurricane season.