Your Home’s Hurricane Plan

For most coastal residents, the thoughts of getting affected by a hurricane is usually an afterthought until it is too late. Many homeowners tend to want to ride out hurricane or tropical storm warnings instead of listening to local authorities to evacuate. If you do find yourself “battening down the hatches” and staying in your home, please make sure you have a hurricane plan in place. Follow a few simple items below:

Before a Hurricane

• Make plans to secure your property. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with ⅝” marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.
• Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This will reduce roof damage.
• Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed.
• Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts to prevent misdirected flooding.
• Determine how and where to secure your boat.
• Consider building a safe room.
• Keep articles in your basement elevated to avoid damage from even minor flooding.
• Keep a well-stocked Family Disaster Kit in case you lose power. Think about what you might need if you are isolated for a number of days.

During a Hurricane

If a hurricane is likely in your area, you should:

• • Stay informed by monitoring the store via radio, TV, and internet.
  • Secure your home, close storm shutters, and secure outdoor objects or bring them indoors. Objects such as lawn furniture, trash barrels, hanging plants, toys, and even awnings can be broken and picked up by strong winds and potentially become a projectile.
  • Turn off utilities if instructed to do so. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed.
  • Turn off propane tanks. Avoid using the phone, except for serious emergencies.
  • Keep your vehicles fully fueled.
  • Have a certain amount of cash available. If power is lost, ATMs may not be working.
  • Moor your boat if time permits.

• Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other large containers with water.

If You Find Damage

If your home gets damaged due to a storm, always call a local professional to come out and assist you. Do not attempt to make roofing, siding, or window repairs yourself. Always be attentive to any downed power lines and use caution when venturing outside of your home after a storm. Calling a local contractor who is qualified to make the repair that you need will help you prevent any issues that may arise with out of town “storm chasers” or contractors. You should take photos of the damage and call your homeowner’s insurance provider to begin a claim.

If you have any type of exterior damage, call us, Contract Exteriors to help fix and protect your home. We are one of the very few qualified exterior contractors along the Carolina Coast that can handling multiple exterior components such as roofing, siding, windows, decking, and more. With offices located in Hilton Head, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and Wilmington, we are prepared to come and assist you.