Hurricane season seems to be getting longer and longer every year as more homes are affected by these storms every new year. The key to getting out of a hurricane in a good place, you need to know how to prepare and recover from them correctly. Let’s look at how you can go about doing that.
The Inevitability of Hurricanes
While it would be great if there was a way to avoid them and make them disappear, hurricanes are something nobody can prevent. Hurricanes and any really bad storm for that matter are inevitable and likely to affect everyone in their areas at some point in time.
The inevitability of hurricanes is something we all have to deal with, so all we can do is prepare and be ready.
How to Prepare for Hurricanes
Keep Updated
Something you can easily do to be ready for a hurricane is to constantly stay updated with the location and strength of the storm. One of the reasons that storms like hurricanes are so dangerous is because they can change in an instant and go from mild to deadly in a few hours.
Whether you have a good weather channel to update you or are using a portable radio, keeping yourself updated with the state and location of the storm is essential to preparation. Being informed is what can keep you safe and ready during a hurricane.
Check Problem Areas
When a hurricane hits, that’s when you realize what areas should have had extra reinforcement. Unless you enjoy living in a state of regret, checking the problem areas in your home when preparing for a hurricane is essential. Looking at areas like windows, doors, and any areas where water can get in will prevent you from needing disaster restoration after the hurricane goes away.
Have a Plan
The best way to deal with a hurricane or any disaster in general is to have a plan. Whether your plan is to prepare your house to take a beating or think it is best to evacuate, knowing what you need to do well ahead of the storm arising is essential. It is also smart to have a plan for dealing with the likely aftermath when the damage is done.
Reinforce Where Possible
While looking at problem areas like we mentioned above is a good first step, it will not stop much damage from occurring other than what would have happened if you didn’t address the area. This is why so many people tend to board up their homes in preparation for hurricanes as they believe it will protect their homes from damage.
From wooden planks on the windows to sandbags at the doors, small steps to prevent water or wind from damaging your home can be the difference between a dry and glass-free house and one that is destroyed by the weather.
Have the Right People Ready
Many people think that a hurricane is something they have to deal with alone and they can’t rely on anyone else for help. The reality is that there are many companies who are ready to offer you the Richmond restoration services you need when disaster like hurricanes occur.
Even if a rogue tree breaks some glass or the basement floods from a normal storm, restoration teams are one of your best assets when facing nature. The right team who is able to help you recover is far more valuable than any plank or sandbag that you place.
How to Recover from Hurricanes
Assess Damage
After the storm has come and taken its toll, it is time for you to assess the damage. Whether you are dealing with a few loose roof tiles or are dealing with a substantial amount of water in the basement, assessing the current damage is how you will know what actions to take going forward. Make sure you have proper water clean up done.
When assessing the damage, you want to be as objective as possible to paint the most realistic picture. It would be nice to pretend like the damage isn’t that bad but lying to yourself now will only hurt you in the future.
Take Immediate Action
With the damage caused by hurricanes ranging from bad to catastrophic, you need to take action immediately to prevent any further issues. Immediate action is what allows you the time to find the most serious issues and fix them before they get exponentially worse.
Many people have it in their minds that the problem isn’t there if they don’t see it, but that is what brings houses down unexpectedly because action wasn’t taken in the early stages. You need to make sure you are getting back to your home when safe to ensure you can catch issues before they get even worse.
Reduce Potential for More Damage
As we mentioned with the immediate action, not doing so causes a chain reaction of future issues you will need to deal with. For example, you can certainly ignore that water in your basement for the next few months, but not taking care of it could cause mold to grow and make your home unfit to live in.
Reducing the potential for more damage comes from you doing your all in making sure that all issues are dealt with to the fullest. You can easily prevent damage from occurring in the future when you make sure every part of your home is fully recovered from the hurricane.
Prepare for the Future
The last tip we can offer to you is to prepare for the next time. Even if the hurricane season is over and you aren’t expecting one for another year, now is the time to put in the work and prepare for what will eventually come.
One of the best things you can do right now is to take what you learned from a past hurricane experience and use that to prepare more effectively for the next one. Taking the time now to prepare for later will save you time and money in the future when you need it most.
Need Storm Damage Cleanup After a Hurricane?
Call VRS today so you have a friendly face to help you recover from whatever nature throws at you.
