Hurricane preparation starts long before a storm appears in the forecast. Taking a few simple steps now can help protect your property, speed up the insurance process and make recovery easier if your home is damaged. One of the first things homeowners should do to protect their property is to get all their documents in order, including insurance policies. Looking at flood zones on FEMA.gov to check whether you’re in one is also a good place to start.
“If you only have homeowners' insurance, that will cover a lot of hurricane damage,” said TJ Caplinger, a United Water Restoration Group (UWRG) Franchise Owner in Central Florida. “But what also comes with hurricanes and storms is flooding. And homeowners' insurance doesn't cover the flooding portion. So, you want to make sure that you get all your documents in order. That's important. Phone numbers, your property insurance, your flood insurance. Keep our number handy so that as soon as the damage hits, you can give us a call.”
Because insurance coverage varies by policy, homeowners should review their coverage and confirm the specifics of their homeowners and flood insurance with their insurance agent before storm season.
Caplinger also advises taking a lot of pictures now before anything happens. If you don’t have a full inventory list of the items you may lose, photos will also go a long way toward the claims process. This includes taking pictures of the roof and outside of the property.
Those simple steps create a record of your property's condition before the storm. They can also help eliminate questions from insurance companies if damage occurs later.
After reviewing your insurance coverage and documenting your property, homeowners should turn their attention to protecting the home itself. The earlier you prepare, the easier it will be to find supplies and avoid the rush that occurs whenever a hurricane approaches.
"If you don't have hurricane shutters, get them installed," Caplinger said. "Or if you don't have time or the expense for formal hurricane shutters, go buy plywood right now. We all know what happens at Home Depot and Lowe's right before a hurricane. If you can find plywood, it's skyrocketed in price."
Plywood can be cut to fit each window ahead of time and homeowners can purchase hurricane clips so everything is ready to install when needed. It's a one-time investment that can be reused every hurricane season. For homes that are vulnerable to flooding, temporary flood barriers should be bought before they become difficult to find.
"You can find inflatable flood barriers, or if you want to go to the expense, they make plastic L-shaped flood barriers," Caplinger said. "If your house is prone to flooding, if you live near a creek or a river, or you're in a floodplain where you know water is going to rise from heavy rains, get them now before everybody else is trying to do it at the last minute."
Just as important as preparing your home is avoiding common mistakes. Caplinger says many homeowners don't fully understand what their insurance covers or wait too long to document their property.
“Claims can be delayed or reduced when there's no record of the home's condition before the storm — for example, if pre-existing wear or maintenance issues can't be ruled out,” said Caplinger. “That's why documentation matters so much.”
He also encourages homeowners to address existing maintenance issues before hurricane season arrives. A few missing shingles or a small leak may not seem urgent today, but they can quickly become much bigger problems once heavy rain and high winds move in.
While every hurricane is different, some parts of the home are much more likely to suffer damage than others. Caplinger says homeowners should focus on three areas: the roof, the windows and places where floodwater could enter the home. The roof should be the first place homeowners inspect before hurricane season.
"You don't even have to get up on your roof," Caplinger said. "Just take a step back, go out in your front yard or your backyard and take a look at your roof, maybe with a pair of binoculars. Are shingles in place? Do you have missing shingles? If so, get all that taken care of now."
Even if hurricane-force winds don't remove an entire roof, damaged or missing shingles can leave the home vulnerable to water intrusion during heavy rain. Fixing those problems ahead of time can help prevent much larger repairs later.
Windows are another common weak point because they are exposed to both high winds and flying debris. Caplinger again recommends preparing plywood before hurricane season instead of scrambling to buy supplies when a storm is already on the way.
"If you don't have hurricane shutters, or you don't want to go through that expense, at least go buy some wood now and cut it to your windows," Caplinger said. "It's a one-time expense. Do it now because then you'll have it for every hurricane season. When my parents moved to Florida about six years ago, that's one of the first things we did. Last year when we had a hurricane come through, it took just a few minutes. I went over to my dad's house, put the windows up with the clips and we were done without any panicking."
Homeowners should also think beyond wind damage and prepare for the heavy rain that often follows a hurricane. Even homes that don't flood during the storm itself can take on water later as nearby rivers and creeks rise.
No matter how well a home is prepared, some hurricane damage simply can't be prevented. High winds can tear off roofing materials, break windows and send debris flying from neighboring properties.
"The biggest thing is the wind damage," Caplinger said. "If it takes your roof off or takes some shingles off, or something blows into a window and breaks it, there's very little that you can do to prevent that."
Once the home has been exposed, water can quickly find its way inside through damaged roofing, broken windows or other openings. That's when restoration professionals can help prevent the damage from getting worse. UWRG begins preparing before the hurricane ever makes landfall.
“We know when it's coming, so we mobilize all of our teams, our equipment and our labor force,” Caplinger said. “As soon as that hurricane is over and it's safe to do so, we go straight out to the homes. Whether it's extracting water, setting up dehumidification machines and air movers, we get you dried and get you back very, very quickly to a dry standard.”
While no restoration company can stop a hurricane, responding quickly after the storm can help limit additional damage and begin the recovery process sooner.
Homeowners should create a dedicated hurricane kit before storm season is underway. Keeping everything together not only saves time, but also helps reduce stress when every minute counts.
"I tell people to go buy a Rubbermaid bin and put your hurricane prep in it," Caplinger said. "Put your documents in there. Buy a hand-crank weather radio with a flashlight on it. Put some extra batteries, some cell phone chargers, a change of clothes and important phone numbers in there. If you are on medication, put important medication in there. Keep it in the corner of your house or garage. Then if you have to leave, or you're staying through the hurricane, you've got everything right there just in case something goes down."
No one can prevent every hurricane from causing damage, but taking time to prepare before the season begins can make a big difference. From reviewing your insurance coverage and protecting vulnerable areas of your home to having an emergency kit ready to go, small steps today can make recovery much easier after the storm passes.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/unitedwaterrestoration.
United Water Restoration Group
SPONSORED
Taking time to prepare your home before hurricane season begins can help limit storm damage while making it easier to navigate the insurance and restoration process afterward.
Hurricane preparation starts long before a storm appears in the forecast. Taking a few simple steps now can help protect your property, speed up the insurance process and make recovery easier if your home is damaged. One of the first things homeowners should do to protect their property is to get all their documents in order, including insurance policies. Looking at flood zones on FEMA.gov to check whether you’re in one is also a good place to start.
“If you only have homeowners' insurance, that will cover a lot of hurricane damage,” said TJ Caplinger, a United Water Restoration Group (UWRG) Franchise Owner in Central Florida. “But what also comes with hurricanes and storms is flooding. And homeowners' insurance doesn't cover the flooding portion. So, you want to make sure that you get all your documents in order. That's important. Phone numbers, your property insurance, your flood insurance. Keep our number handy so that as soon as the damage hits, you can give us a call.”
Because insurance coverage varies by policy, homeowners should review their coverage and confirm the specifics of their homeowners and flood insurance with their insurance agent before storm season.
Caplinger also advises taking a lot of pictures now before anything happens. If you don’t have a full inventory list of the items you may lose, photos will also go a long way toward the claims process. This includes taking pictures of the roof and outside of the property.
Those simple steps create a record of your property's condition before the storm. They can also help eliminate questions from insurance companies if damage occurs later.
After reviewing your insurance coverage and documenting your property, homeowners should turn their attention to protecting the home itself. The earlier you prepare, the easier it will be to find supplies and avoid the rush that occurs whenever a hurricane approaches.
"If you don't have hurricane shutters, get them installed," Caplinger said. "Or if you don't have time or the expense for formal hurricane shutters, go buy plywood right now. We all know what happens at Home Depot and Lowe's right before a hurricane. If you can find plywood, it's skyrocketed in price."
Plywood can be cut to fit each window ahead of time and homeowners can purchase hurricane clips so everything is ready to install when needed. It's a one-time investment that can be reused every hurricane season. For homes that are vulnerable to flooding, temporary flood barriers should be bought before they become difficult to find.
"You can find inflatable flood barriers, or if you want to go to the expense, they make plastic L-shaped flood barriers," Caplinger said. "If your house is prone to flooding, if you live near a creek or a river, or you're in a floodplain where you know water is going to rise from heavy rains, get them now before everybody else is trying to do it at the last minute."
Just as important as preparing your home is avoiding common mistakes. Caplinger says many homeowners don't fully understand what their insurance covers or wait too long to document their property.
“Claims can be delayed or reduced when there's no record of the home's condition before the storm — for example, if pre-existing wear or maintenance issues can't be ruled out,” said Caplinger. “That's why documentation matters so much.”
He also encourages homeowners to address existing maintenance issues before hurricane season arrives. A few missing shingles or a small leak may not seem urgent today, but they can quickly become much bigger problems once heavy rain and high winds move in.
While every hurricane is different, some parts of the home are much more likely to suffer damage than others. Caplinger says homeowners should focus on three areas: the roof, the windows and places where floodwater could enter the home. The roof should be the first place homeowners inspect before hurricane season.
"You don't even have to get up on your roof," Caplinger said. "Just take a step back, go out in your front yard or your backyard and take a look at your roof, maybe with a pair of binoculars. Are shingles in place? Do you have missing shingles? If so, get all that taken care of now."
Even if hurricane-force winds don't remove an entire roof, damaged or missing shingles can leave the home vulnerable to water intrusion during heavy rain. Fixing those problems ahead of time can help prevent much larger repairs later.
Windows are another common weak point because they are exposed to both high winds and flying debris. Caplinger again recommends preparing plywood before hurricane season instead of scrambling to buy supplies when a storm is already on the way.
"If you don't have hurricane shutters, or you don't want to go through that expense, at least go buy some wood now and cut it to your windows," Caplinger said. "It's a one-time expense. Do it now because then you'll have it for every hurricane season. When my parents moved to Florida about six years ago, that's one of the first things we did. Last year when we had a hurricane come through, it took just a few minutes. I went over to my dad's house, put the windows up with the clips and we were done without any panicking."
Homeowners should also think beyond wind damage and prepare for the heavy rain that often follows a hurricane. Even homes that don't flood during the storm itself can take on water later as nearby rivers and creeks rise.
No matter how well a home is prepared, some hurricane damage simply can't be prevented. High winds can tear off roofing materials, break windows and send debris flying from neighboring properties.
"The biggest thing is the wind damage," Caplinger said. "If it takes your roof off or takes some shingles off, or something blows into a window and breaks it, there's very little that you can do to prevent that."
Once the home has been exposed, water can quickly find its way inside through damaged roofing, broken windows or other openings. That's when restoration professionals can help prevent the damage from getting worse. UWRG begins preparing before the hurricane ever makes landfall.
“We know when it's coming, so we mobilize all of our teams, our equipment and our labor force,” Caplinger said. “As soon as that hurricane is over and it's safe to do so, we go straight out to the homes. Whether it's extracting water, setting up dehumidification machines and air movers, we get you dried and get you back very, very quickly to a dry standard.”
While no restoration company can stop a hurricane, responding quickly after the storm can help limit additional damage and begin the recovery process sooner.
Homeowners should create a dedicated hurricane kit before storm season is underway. Keeping everything together not only saves time, but also helps reduce stress when every minute counts.
"I tell people to go buy a Rubbermaid bin and put your hurricane prep in it," Caplinger said. "Put your documents in there. Buy a hand-crank weather radio with a flashlight on it. Put some extra batteries, some cell phone chargers, a change of clothes and important phone numbers in there. If you are on medication, put important medication in there. Keep it in the corner of your house or garage. Then if you have to leave, or you're staying through the hurricane, you've got everything right there just in case something goes down."
No one can prevent every hurricane from causing damage, but taking time to prepare before the season begins can make a big difference. From reviewing your insurance coverage and protecting vulnerable areas of your home to having an emergency kit ready to go, small steps today can make recovery much easier after the storm passes.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/unitedwaterrestoration.
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