Brace for Impact: Essential Steps to Prep Your Home for Extreme Weather

Preparing for spring storms and the potential for extreme weather means doing a lot around the house to get everything ready. When you want to make sure your home is ready for anything, you’ll want to prepare the home inside and out, and have everything you need to stay safe if there is a storm. Use the following tips to make sure your home is ready in case you experience extreme weather this year.

Make Sure You Have a Home Warranty and Insurance

There are tons of benefits of getting a home warranty, including the ability to get repairs when something breaks down inside the home. Along with major appliances, home warranties can cover the major systems inside your home in case they stop working. Insurance is also needed to cover repairs of anything that’s not included in your home warranty, such as damage to the home itself.

Start Trimming Trees and Bushes

Trim all of the trees and bushes around the home. Doing this helps to remove any dead or dying branches, so they won’t go flying when there’s any extreme weather. Depending on the types of trees you have around the house, this may need to be done yearly to help keep the tree growing healthy and protect the home from damage.

Clean Up Outside the House

Clean up any debris around the house and make sure all items are put away. Yard furniture and other big items should be secured or moved inside when there’s an elevated risk of extreme weather in the area. They can be pulled up against the house or moved into the garage to keep them safe and prevent them from hitting the home if the wind pushes them.

Clean the Gutters

Gutters help move water away from the roof and foundation of the home, so they need to be cleaned out to work properly and protect the home. If you don’t want to clean the gutters on your own, make sure they’re cleaned out professionally at least once per year. If you have a lot of trees in the yard, the gutters may need to be cleaned out more frequently.

Gather Emergency Supplies

Make sure you have enough emergency supplies for everyone in the household. This should include extra water, non-perishable foods, clothes, blankets, first aid supplies, and more. Keep this in an area that’s easy to access if the lights go out or if you have to evacuate from the home.

Create an Evacuation Plan

Take the time to create an evacuation plan and share it with the family. Discuss various scenarios, such as when you’ll pack and leave the home for severe weather or what to do if something damages the home during a storm. Everyone should understand the plan and know where to meet if something happens.

Extreme weather can occur anywhere, and when it does, the potential for damage to homes is high. Make sure you have a plan in place and that you’re fully prepared for what the upcoming seasons may bring. No matter what kind of weather you’re worried about, if you follow the tips here and make sure you’re prepared, you can help protect your home from damage and ensure your family stays safe.