As summer progresses, most of the country sees more thunderstorms. Thunderstorms can cause damage to your property with strong winds, hail, and heavy rain.
Here are some things a homeowner can do to protect his or her property during stormy weather and lower the risk of major damage.
Clear away outdoor items.
If a storm is coming, put away your lawn furniture, gardening tools, sports equipment, and anything else you have outside. During a storm, high winds could pick up these items and send them flying into the air. This could result in them crashing through a window, damaging property, and even causing serious injury to a person.
Trim the trees.
Look closely at the trees in your yard. During storms, big tree branches often break off, which can damage your home's siding, wreck your car, or even knock down power lines. So if you see a big branch loosely attached to a tree, you might want to cut it off.
Install storm shutters.
No matter how you protect your yard, the strong winds and heavy rains of a storm can still damage your windows. Once a window is broken, the wind will blow into the home and not only wreck the inside, but also push up on the roof. This will increase the risk of pushing the roof off. If this happens, the walls fall and your house will be entirely destroyed. If you live in a place with high winds, like Florida for example, you can install impact-resistant glass to minimize your windows from breaking.
Have backup power.
During storms, electrical lines are at risk. Power lines can be easily broken by falling branches, and lightning strikes can blow up transformers, which can cause major power outages. A surge protector for the whole house costs between $200 and $300 and is easy for an electrician to install. If the weather is really bad, you might want to buy a home generator to keep your power on in case it goes out for an extended period of time.
Flood-proof your home.
Flooding can happen when it rains a lot, which could destroy your whole house. If you live in an area with a high chance of flooding, your homeowner’s insurance might not cover the damage, so be sure to check your policy to see what it covers. One way to keep your house from getting flooded is to make the foundation waterproof with concrete. Wet floodproofing is another choice. This is when areas under the house, like basements and crawl spaces, are engineered to let floodwaters enter and leave.
Check your house for weaknesses.
Experts say that the force of the wind during a storm can cause your home's weak spots to break. Because of this, you should make sure your house is sturdy enough to handle the most severe weather. Before the next hurricane, there are things you can do to make your home stronger. Experts say that the roof, windows, doors, and garage door should all be carefully checked (if you have one). It is better to be too ready than not ready enough.
Make an emergency plan in case the worst happens.
It is smart to have a plan for where you and your family will go if you have to leave your home. Remember, in the end, the things in your home are replaceable. Your family is not. When the weather is really bad, some homes are not safe to stay in. Have a storm safety plan in place, including a safe location to go to, like a basement or storm shelter. Prepare a bag with important papers and valuables as soon as you hear a major storm warning. Also, store enough water, a first-aid kit, and anything else you might need on hand at all times.
After a storm
When the storm is over, you will have to check your property for damage. Stay away from power lines and be extra careful inside a building that has been damaged.
Public Adjusters Can Help Ease the Process
Once a storm has passed and damage has occurred, you will have to file a claim with your insurance company, but you do not have to work the claim process on your own. That is what public adjusters are for. Public adjusters are in charge of figuring out how much damage a fire or storm has done to a house. For a fee, the public adjuster will evaluate a policyholder's property loss and help them file insurance claims. They work for you, not the insurance company, and can save you a lot of money and stress by making sure your insurance adjuster company pays the full amount required by your policy. Unlike the insurance company that wants to minimize the amount of compensation for your losses, a public adjuster fights to maximize your claim.
There are different levels of quality and experience among public adjusters, so choose a public adjusting firm carefully.
For more information, contact us today to speak with one of our qualified public adjusters! 704-736-3683