Buresh Blog: April by the Numbers... Hurricane Preparedness Week

Jacksonville, FL — April is “in the books” & was wetter than avg. with just about avg. temps. The 5.22″ of rain at JIA was about 2 1/4″ above avg. with most of the rain occurring on two days - April 7th (2.9″ - broke the daily record of 1.82″ in 1940) & April 17th (1.6″ - broke the daily record of 1″ in 1946). Temps. were 0.1 degree above avg.

This week (May 1-7) is Hurricane Preparedness Week. Click * here * for hurricane info. from the First Alert Hurricane Center... * here * for the ‘22 hurricane preparation guide... * here * for info. from the National Hurricane Center.

* Determine Your Risk

* Develop an evacuation plan

* Assemble Disaster Supplies

* Get an insurance checkup

* Strengthen Your Home

* Help Your Neighbor

* Complete a Written Plan

From the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS):

Inspect and repair your roof

Have a professional inspect your roof and make any necessary repairs. This can include replacing loose shingles, installing or replacing flashing around your skylights and chimneys and replacing roof valleys if necessary to protect your home from leaks.

If a roof inspection reveals it is time for replacement, have a roofing contractor install your new roof to the FORTIFIED Roof standard. Roofs installed in this way are better able to withstand high winds, keeping the roof on and water out during a hurricane.

Install a wind-rated garage door

The garage door can be one of the most vulnerable parts of your home to wind damage because it is typically the largest opening in a home. When a garage door buckles under high winds, it can lead to damage of the roof and surrounding walls, potentially causing structural damage to your entire home. If you don’t have a wind-rated garage door, consider replacing your current garage door with one rated to withstand the high winds of a potential hurricane.

If you already have a wind-rated garage door, service it at least once a year. You can also perform routine maintenance like tightening screws and bolts to prolong the life of the garage door and ensure it’s in proper working condition.

Purchase hurricane shutters

Plan ahead to purchase and have hurricane shutters installed ahead of the season. During a hurricane, windows can easily shatter, letting in rain, wind and debris, and it can also allow pressure to build up inside your home, causing more extensive damage.

For the best protection, look for code-conforming aluminum shutters to cover your windows when a storm nears.

Trim your trees

Trees are great to have on your property to provide shade and add greenery, but they also pose a danger to your home during a hurricane. Hire an arborist or other professional to trim trees around your home, remove branches that hang over the house and cut down dead, dying or diseased trees to reduce the risk of a falling tree damaging your home.

Review your insurance policy

While you may not need to use it often, you should familiarize yourself with your home insurance policy. Review the policy to know what your insurance covers and what it doesn’t so you can be prepared for every eventuality.

Make sure to store policy information and your insurance agent’s contact information on your phone to access it wherever you go. It’s also a good idea to create a home inventory to keep track of belongings. Whether your write down a detailed list or take videos of your belongings, make sure to store this information safely off-site.

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