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SERVPROSERVPRO of Jefferson City
Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration™
(573) 635-5883

10 Steps To Protect Your Home From Storm Damage

2/4/2019 (Permalink)

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Every spring, we here in the Midwest prep for storm season.

A lot of damage can occur as the result of storms and we at SERVPRO are happy to come to the rescue of your property with any water damage you receive.  However, we'd much prefer you minimize damage to your home and family by following some of these quick and easy precautions.

      1. REPLACE MISSING OR DAMAGED                    SHINGLES

If a shingle is damaged, it’s more likely to break free. If it’s missing, well then you’ve got a gap for wind to get under and do even more damage.

     2.  REPAIR LOOSE SIDING

The same rules as roofing apply to siding: it’s important to ensure your siding isn’t damaged.

   3.  KEEP YOUR GUTTERS CLEAR

Make sure your gutters are free-flowing and your downspouts flow away from your foundation.

Water damage or flooding is one of the quickest ways to devalue your home. So ensuring your gutters are clear is the first line of defense in helping water to flow away from your home.

      4. ENSURE WATER CAN FLOW AWAY                   FROM YOUR HOME

The grade of your lot should keep water flowing away from your home and into a ditch, drain, or some other proper retention area.

  1. KEEP YOUR SUMP PUMP IN WORKING ORDER

Before Spring rains start up, check whether your sump pump is in working order. If you want to feel extra-secure, having a backup sump pump is a sure-fire way to prevent basement flooding.

  1. ENSURE PROPER SEALING OF DOORS AND WINDOWS

Wind only needs a small opening to get underneath something like a shingle or siding and rip it off. And in the event of tornadic winds, a small opening in your windows or doors could enlarge and allow enough wind inside to compromise your home’s roof.

  1. CHECK FOR LOOSE FENCE POSTS

Wind will surprise you. Anything that’s not nailed down is a liability, and that includes fence posts, which are often forgotten or ignored in homeowner’s storm-prep.

  1. REGULARLY TRIM YOUR TREES

Problem tree limbs can damage your home, a vehicle, or even your neighbor’s property. Regularly trimming the trees on your property is an excellent way to protect your roof and windows.

  1. WALK AROUND YOUR PROPERTY

A lot of people don’t have the time or skills to check and/or repair everything on their property before storm season kicks up. But, if you know a storm is coming, there are some very basic steps you can take to minimize its impact.

Like identifying the items around your property that could become projectiles. That means lawn furniture, tools, flower pots, or other yard debris. Do yourself a favor and move those items to a garage, a shed, or indoors.

  1. KEEP A GENERATOR ON HAND

A bad storm could potentially knock out power to your home for a couple of hours — or days. Having a generator on standby could go a long way towards ensuring you don’t lose your food, or the livability of your home until power is restored.

MOST IMPORTANTLY

Don’t forget to protect people.

Your home and the things inside are replaceable. Your family isn’t.

Have a storm safety plan in place, including a safe location to go, like a basement or storm shelter, to ride out the worst mother nature has to offer.

Every year, storm season brings a lot of uncertainty, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do about it.  It's worth doing the prep work.  We at SERVPRO of Jefferson City want you to stay safe and we want you to keep your home free of water damage.  But if storms hit before you are able to prepare, you can reach us at 573-635-5883. When fire and water take control of your life, SERVPRO of Jefferson City will help you take it back.

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