Protecting your home

• Clear Yard Hazards: High winds easily turn unsecured items into destructive projectiles. Bring all patio furniture, grills, potted plants, decorations, bicycles, and trash cans into a garage or secure them tightly.
• Hire a professional to trim dead or overhanging branches close to your home and power lines to prevent them from crashing through your roof or windows or your neighbor’s. Identify trees that are dead, dying, or diseased, as well as limbs that are weak, broken, or too close to your house and prioritize these for removal. If you’re unsure about how to prune properly, hire a professional arborist so you don’t damage your trees.
• Clear rain gutters and downspouts of debris to ensure proper drainage and prevent roof pooling or foundation flooding.
• Install permanent hurricane shutters or cover all windows with exterior-grade plywood (at least 5/8-inch thick). Never tape your windows; tape does not prevent breakage and only creates larger, more dangerous shards of glass.
• Sliding glass doors should be made of tempered glass and, during a storm, covered with shutters or plywood. These types of doors are more vulnerable to wind damage than most other doors
• Inspect screened enclosures and pool cages to ensure the integrity of all fasteners, cables, footings, and anchors. If you need help with this task, reach out to a licensed contractor.
• Reinforce the Garage: Because garage door failure accounts for a large percentage of wind damage, consider installing a garage door bracing kit or replacing the door with a wind-rated impact model. When it comes to hurricane protection, many homeowners focus on windows and roofing, but the garage door deserves just as much attention. During a hurricane, the garage door faces relentless wind pressure that can spell disaster for the rest of the house. Statistics show that garage door failure is one of the main causes of storm-related damage, with high winds pushing through and threatening the structural integrity of your entire home.
• Know how to shut off power to your home in case of flooding and downed electrical wires, especially if located in a difficult-to-reach place during the storm.
• Seal outside wall openings such as vents, outdoor electrical outlets, garden hose bibs, and locations where cables or pipes go through the wall. Use a high-quality urethane-based caulk to prevent water penetration.
• If you have a boat on a trailer, know how to anchor the trailer to the ground or house—and review your boat insurance policy. Find out more at https://www.iii.org/article/boat-insurance-and-safety.
• As with all home maintenance, it is important that safety comes first. If needed, please seek guidance from a licensed professional.
• If you are a renter, talk with your landlord or property manager about the steps you can take together to protect yourself, your family, your home, and your property.
• If you live in a mobile home, make sure you know how to secure it against high winds and be sure to review your mobile home insurance policy. Find out more at https://www.iii.org/article/mobile-home-insurance. Reminder: mobile homes are not safe in high winds, and you will need to move to a safer place before a storm hits. Always follow the advice of your local community officials

Make sure your car is ready before the storm hits.

• Fill your car’s gas tank.
• Move cars and trucks into your garage or under cover.
• Always keep an emergency kit in your car.
• Visit Ready.gov for information on how to prepare your car and what to include in your kit.
• If you don’t own a car, consider making plans with friends or family or call authorities to get a ride if you need to evacuate.