Hurricane season has come this year, with tropical storms already behind us and more on the forecast. Still, if you act quickly, you have time to get your waterfront property ready for what's to come in hurricane season. Keep these tips in mind to prepare you, your family, and your home for whatever the weather throws your way.
1. Protect Those Windows
Windows can be vulnerable points in the middle of a hurricane. If your windows don't have the right reinforcement and protection, the damage could extend from the windows themselves to your possessions, indoors or out. People can even be injured if anyone is too near the windows when the storm strikes. Storm screens, shutters, or impact windows can help your windows weather the storm.
Doors aren't as susceptible to damage as windows, but they can also be a weak point for the house. When purchasing shutters or screens, make sure you get impact doors for your entrance and your garage to protect those openings too.
2. Inspect Your Property
If your property is likely to be affected by a hurricane, contact your insurance right away and set up a pre-loss inspection. Have them inspect everything, from the pile foundations to the seawalls to the docks and boathouses. If anything needs maintenance, get it done soon to minimize the damage a storm can do.
3. Document Your Things
Those who own waterfront properties should take pictures of anything that a hurricane could affect. Documentation is for insurance purposes. If a storm damages your property, you'll need to be able to prove it for your insurance company to accept it. Take good pictures and notes to make sure you're covered.
4. Tie Everything Down
Anything that you plan to keep outside this summer should be well-secured to the ground or easy to bring indoors when the wind starts picking up. If you don't secure your belongings in some way, you're much more likely to incur damage, and you want to make it through the season with as little harm to your property as possible.
If you have a boat, make sure you anchor it and secure it to the dock, bring it inside to a sturdy boathouse, or strap it down to the stand you usually keep it on. You can anchor it offshore or tie it down at a local marina, but you should keep it close to the shore or on land.
5. Keep Important Papers Safe
Whatever essential documents, priceless photos, or irreplaceable treasures you keep in your home, make sure that they stay safe in a waterproof box, or even better, a safe. Nobody hopes to deal with flooding or storm damage, but in a waterfront home, you should be prepared for the worst and keep safe all the things you can't replace.
6. Prepare For Your Family
Decide on emergency procedures and evacuation routes so that your whole household knows the plan and can follow it if anything happens. Make sure you have batteries, candles, enough no-cook food for several meals, and whatever else you might need. If you lose power or can't get to the store, you want to make sure you'll be okay.
If you have kids, make sure they're involved in the process too. Let them help put the emergency kits together and stock up the food they'll like. Most kids are ready and willing to help out when it counts most, and you can be confident that they're prepared for the storm, too.
