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Situated in the easternmost part of New York, Suffolk County has over a thousand miles of coastline. What this means for residents is that storms and the risk of flooding can be very moderate when it strikes. However, by leaving your home unprepared for natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, and thunderstorms, you can increase the risk of significant property damage, indoor flooding, and injuries to you and your household.
As soon as local authorities have announced an incoming storm or hurricane, it’s best to prepare your home as quickly as possible. Here are some steps to minimize storm damage and the impact these natural events can have on your household.
Gather Emergency Supplies
Even before a warning is announced, you can get started on an emergency supply bag in your home. Your emergency supplies should include the following:
- Enough non-perishable food and water to last your household several days
- Medicine and first aid kit
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Portable radio
- Cash
- Blankets
- Clothing
- Toiletries
- Important documents placed inside a water-resistant container
- A list of emergency contacts
During preparation is a good time to instruct your household on what to do in case a storm gets too severe. If the worst happens, you may have to locate the nearest shelter or evacuation center.
Check Your Home’s Gutters and Drains
Before a storm, check if the gutters and downspout drains are free of any blockage or debris. These are essential for redirecting water away from your home and can help prevent storm damage like water seeping into the foundation and basement.
Secure Your Yard
During a storm, strong winds can lead to debris and loose furniture damaging your property and injuring those in your home. The best course of action is to secure your yard before the storm hits. Some of the steps you can take include:
- Trim unstable and dead tree branches and dispose of branches or sticks in your yard. Trees with strong and deep roots can withstand storms, but smaller trees with shallow roots may need some support to avoid uprooting.
- Ensure your fences are secured and locked.
- Store away any loose outdoor furniture and equipment. Bring these to your garage or ensure they’re secured before the storm hits.
- Park your car inside your garage.
Cover Up Your Doors, Windows, and Skylights
The best way to protect these critical spots in your home is to install storm shutters, impact-resistant glass, or metal bars that prevent flying debris from hitting the glass. Otherwise, an alternative solution is to nail plywood to the doors and window frames.
Take Steps to Prevent Indoor Flooding
Before a storm, you can take steps to invest in foundation vents and other home features that can prevent indoor flooding. There are plenty of products on the market that can block low levels of flooding from entering your home. You can also apply coatings and sealants to your doors and windows to prevent leaks from entering your home.
Identify a Designated Shelter Room
In case of strong winds, evacuating your home may not always be an option. Instead, identify a part of your home as the designated shelter room. This is ideally the room with no windows in the center of your home’s first floor. Avoid rooms near windows if they aren’t reinforced against debris.
Let the Experts of Restoration 1 of Suffolk County Handle Storm Restoration After a Natural Disaster
When facing a storm or any natural disaster, it’s much better to be over-prepared than underprepared. But even then, there’s no telling how devastating the aftermath of a storm can be and what state your home will be in after the storm passes. Aside from the damage, you can see, there’s also the risk of storm damage causing internal damage to the structure of your home. This could make your home a hazard to live in if you haven’t enlisted storm damage restoration from professionals.
With a team like Restoration 1 of Suffolk County, you can take the right steps to ensure the safety and stability of your home. Together with a team of certified technicians that are experienced in storm restoration, you can ensure the right steps are taken to bring your home back into a safe condition. Storm damage restoration also prevents other home issues that can develop from untreated storm damage, such as microbial growth.
Is your property in need of storm restoration services? The team of Restoration 1 of Suffolk County is ready to help you pick up the pieces of the aftermath with reliable storm damage restoration. Call Restoration 1 of Suffolk County!
