In summer, we are more preoccupied with choosing a vacation location, inviting friends over to the lake house and grilling burgers while drinking beer and going to the beach to get a tan. All our valuable possessions are left behind with no care, forgetting that the heat often brings an unpredictable storm that can destroy your house.
No amount of preparation can save you from adverse weather if you don’t know what to do. For example, if you haven’t inspected the drains in a while, they might get clogged after the storm. This might cause your house to flood. So, our first piece of advice is to clean your gutter and ensure they are draining properly. Protecting your home from summer storms requires a lot of planning. Here’s a short guide on how to do it:
Make an Emergency Plan
When it comes to fire safety, you have probably heard the popular saying – Stop, drop, and roll. In case of a storm, the instructions are slightly different – Drop, cover, and hold on.
Your summer storm safety plan should include taking shelter in the basement. Stock food and other supplies in there, and wait out the storm until help arrives. If you don’t have one, evacuate your house immediately and go to your neighbor’s.
Check the Outdoors
There are plenty of things on your property that can damage your house. For example, your car parked near a street light might fall on it, loose tree limbs that crash into your house through the windows, unsecured patio furniture that might fly and injure your neighbor, etc.
These are just some of the things you need to take care of, and here are their solutions:
- Park the car away from your house and ensure its in a safe location
- Cut the loose tree limbs if you can, or call a professional
- If you can’t bolt the patio furniture to the floor, bring it indoors
Prepare for a Power Outage
When the weather gets worst, a power outage is a strong possibility. Here’s how to prepare for it:
- Have standby generator
- Change your flashlight batteries and keep spare ones in a place you can easily access
- Check your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors to ensure they are operational
- Buy a solar charger for your mobile phone
Adjust Your Insurance
A home insurance policy does not cover power failure, earthquakes, and flooding. So, if your house gets damaged by sewage backup, your insurance claim will be rejected. The good news is that you can get additional coverage for a few dollars. For example, flood insurance costs $771 yearly on average. It offers 80% coverage based on actual cash value or replacement cost. You can get this add-on from the National Flood Insurance Program.
Use Surge Protection
Lighting strikes are common in summer storms. They usually occur between June and August. Though they don’t threaten your house severely, they can destroy your electronics. For example, a powerful load of lightning will fry a computer’s and TV’s electric components and burn the chips, permanently damaging them.
Unplug these devices. Use surge protectors for appliances you can’t turn off, such as the refrigerator. The socket extensions will regulate voltage spikes and ensure the appliance receives the right amount of electricity.
It’s important to inspect your property thoroughly before summer arrives. Call the authorities immediately in the aftermath of the storm if you see downed powerlines. As for the damages your property incurs, document them. Take pictures, and if possible, find ones in your family photos that show how the house looked before the storm. This will help when you file your claim.
If you are overwhelmed by it all, hire a public adjuster in Texas to file the claim on your behalf. They will evaluate your property and ensure you receive the right amount of compensation. Morgan Elite Specialist Services offers premium public adjuster services in TX.