If you own a property in Florida, you must take a proactive approach when it comes to seasonal maintenance. With each season, comes a new challenge for your property. Spring’s heavy rains can lead to flooding and leaks, while the summer heat stresses HVAC systems.
Additionally, hurricane season, which runs from June to November, can cause extensive damage to your property, including damaging the roof, knocking down trees, or causing power outages. Hurricane season poses significant threats to properties, especially in coastal areas prone to severe storms. To minimize the damages and protect your property, you must actively prepare for hurricane season.
This includes securing windows and surrounding trees, inspecting the roof, safeguarding essential utilities, and more. In this article, the experts at Income Realty Home Watch will go over everything you must do to keep your Florida property protected during hurricane season.
How to Protect Your Florida During Hurricane Season
Proactive preparation is crucial for minimizing damage and ensuring quicker recovery after hurricane season. The following comprehensive guide outlines the critical precautions you should take to secure your properties before, during, and after hurricane season.
With careful planning and proper maintenance, you’ll be able to minimize property damage, reduce costly repairs, and maintain satisfaction all year round.
1. Prepare for Both Interior and Exterior Damage
Hurricane preparation can be divided into two main components: exterior and interior preparation. Both are critical to minimizing damage to properties.
Exterior Preparation:
Hurricanes bring high winds, rain, and flying debris, all of which can cause significant damage to your property’s exterior. Below are key steps you can take to protect the outer structure of your property:
- Inspect and Reinforce the Roof: Ensure the roof is in good condition, checking for loose or missing shingles, leaks, or weak spots. You can also install hurricane straps or clips to secure the roof structure to the walls for additional protection.
- Protected All Windows and Doors: Install storm shutters or plywood to cover windows and glass doors. Make sure doors are sturdy and equipped with deadbolt locks to prevent them from being blown open by strong winds. Additionally, consider installing impact-resistant windows to reduce the chance of shattered glass during a storm if your property is in a high-risk area.
- Landscape: Trim any trees or bushes on the property. Remove any dead branches or unstable trees that could fall onto the property during a storm. Additionally, you must secure or store outdoor furniture, planters, and other loose items that could become dangerous projectiles in high winds.
- Inspect the Fences: Check any fences on the property to ensure they are stable and secure. Weak fences are susceptible to blowing over, causing damage to the property or neighboring homes.
- Clean the Gutters and Inspect the Drainage: Clogged gutters can cause water to pool on the roof, leading to leaks and water damage. So, make sure to clean gutters and downspouts regularly to ensure proper drainage during heavy rain.
- Inspect the Foundation: Inspect the siding and foundation of the property for any cracks or damage. Reinforce any weak areas to prevent further structural damage during heavy winds and flooding.
- Reinforce the Garage Doors: If the property has a garage, make sure the door is reinforced. A weak garage door can easily be blown off, leaving the structure and its inhabitants vulnerable.
Interior Preparation:
While the exterior takes the brunt of the storm, interior protection is just as important to prevent further damage once the storm passes. Here’s what you should do to keep the inside of your property secure during hurricane season:
- Waterproof and Seal the Property: Seal all windows, doors, and potential leak points to prevent water intrusion. Install waterproof barriers in basements and lower floors in flood-prone areas.
- Appliance Safety: Ensure that appliances, including HVAC units and water heaters, are either elevated or protected with covers to prevent water damage. If your property is in a severe flood zone, consider installing sump pumps or French drains to divert water away.
- Ensure Safety: Equip the property with emergency supplies such as flashlights, batteries, and first aid kits. Provide people with safety instructions and a hurricane preparedness plan that includes evacuation routes and local shelter information.
- Protected Valuable Items: Advise people to secure or elevate valuable items, electronics, and important documents. Important items or furniture on lower floors should be moved to higher levels to prevent flood damage.
2. Review Your Insurance Policy
You should ensure you have proper insurance coverage for hurricane-related damages. Make sure to understand what’s covered and what isn’t, as well as any deductibles that apply to hurricane damage. Unfortunately, most landlord insurance policies don’t cover flood, wind, or hurricane damage.
So, you may have to purchase supplemental insurance policies specifically for these perils. Additionally, you must document the property’s condition before hurricane season starts. In the event of a storm, this documentation will be crucial for filing insurance claims to prove the pre-hurricane state of the property.
3. Keep Open Lines of Communication with
Communication is key before, during, and after a hurricane. You should establish clear lines of communication with people to keep them informed and ensure their safety. This includes creating a hurricane preparedness plan, so people know what to do in case of an emergency.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to send regular updates to people about any weather advisories, property inspections, and hurricane preparedness reminders during hurricane season. And remember to use multiple channels like email, text messages, or dedicated communication portals to ensure seamless communication.
4. Conduct a Post-Storm Inspection
After the hurricane season passes, you must conduct a thorough property inspection. Check the property for roof damage, broken windows, flooding, and any other storm-related issues. Prioritize areas that were particularly vulnerable during the storm, such as the roof, windows, and foundation. This will help you assess the property’s overall condition and spot any needed repairs.
5. Partner with a Home Watch Agency
Hiring a home watch agency can significantly help you protect your properties during hurricane season. They are experienced in preparing properties for storms, handling routine maintenance, and conducting post-storm inspections. They can secure windows, roofs, and landscaping, reducing damage risks.
During a hurricane, they ensure communication with people, offer guidance on evacuations, and manage emergency plans. After the storm, they can coordinate repairs, assess damage, and file insurance claims, reducing your workload and providing you with peace of mind.
Bottom Line
Hurricanes can cause significant damage to your property, from small leaks to roof damage or even foundation issues.
Luckily, you can mitigate the devastating effects of hurricanes and keep your property safe with proactive measures such as securing the exterior and interior of your property, staying informed with weather updates, communicating clearly with their people, and ensuring the property is adequately insured.
If you need help protecting your home during hurricane season, contact Income Realty Home Watch! Our team of experts will be happy to help you.
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