Preparing For Storms

9/4/2019 (Permalink)

A storm with lightening in East Tennessee.

Southeast Tennessee has seen some pretty severe storms tear through our counties in the last few years. Some storms have even developed into tornadoes and large hail events. What can you as a homeowner do to prepare your home’s exterior and yard for a nasty storm? Here are a few ways to do just that! 

Evaluate your landscaping. This is probably one of the most potentially dangerous parts of your yard when it comes to storms. Do you have trees surrounding your home? Do branches reach far enough over your home to be of concern? When heavy wind and rains hit, there’s always a chance that one of those trees or their limbs could come crashing into your home.  

It’s a great idea to have a professional tree trimming/cutting service come out to your home once a year to be sure everything is safe and sound and far enough away from your home in case a storm strikes. 

Trash. If you live in the city, you more than likely have some sort of trash pickup service. If you notice that the forecasters are predicting bad weather, avoid putting your trash can out ahead of time until the storm passes. 

Also, if you don’t live in the city and don’t have a trash removal service, you may have your trash stored in cans alongside your garage or somewhere around the perimeter of your home. Be sure that those items are secured as to avoid flying debris which could break windows, damage siding, and so much more. 

Secure your lawn furniture. If you don’t already have a place that you store lawn furniture when it’s not being used, it’s a good time to decide on where that location may be in the future. Light lawn furniture is easily picked up and thrown by even moderate winds. 

When you hear of storms coming your way, gather all pieces of your lawn furniture that aren’t secured to the ground and place them in your safe place until the weather clears up. 

Roofing. It’s always a great idea to check your roof before and after a large storm hits. After the storm is over and it’s safe to go back outside, inspect your roof as best you can. Check to be sure the gutters are still attached to your home and that no missing or damaged shingles appear. If missing pieces of your roof are left untouched, you could face even more damage later on from water leaks. 

Sheds. Backyard sheds are great for home storage. However, if they’re not properly secured during high winds, they can be thrown across your yard and hit your vehicles or even your home. 

We at SERVPRO are here to help pick up the pieces when the unthinkable happens to your family. The best thing you can do as a homeowner is to be proactive and vigilant when it comes to preparing for damaging storms. If you have water, fire, or storm damage, give us a call.