Fred Harteis News Articles - Hurricane preparation

Fred Harteis News Articles - Preparing our houses for the worst may be the best investment we can make. Here are five great tips for preparing your home for Hurricane Season.


1. Secure your garage
About 80 percent of residential hurricane damage starts with wind entry through garage doors, according to the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes. Many garage doors are made of lightweight materials to conserve weight and expense which makes them vulnerable to high winds.

Look for a sticker on the inside of your garage door that gives you a pressure rating. If you don't see a sticker, chances are you'll need to reinforce your doors. But consumer beware:" There many products out there claiming to provide protection, but they may not be up to code and they can be quite expensive, says Kerri Caldwell of Hurricane Protection magazine. In some cases, you may be paying over $15 a square inch to shield your garage.

2. Reinforce your windows
Forget about taping your windows. It's a waste of time. If you live in a hurricane or storm-prone area, you may want to think about installing impact resistant windows recommends Leslie Chapman-Henderson of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes.

These windows are designed to withstand flying debris. But keep in mind, you'll be paying for the extra protection. Impact resistant windows may cost twice as much as regular windows. These windows are designed to withstand the impact of a standard missile traveling at 34 mph.

3. Watch your grading
Soil should slope away from your house. After the first four feet of your home's perimeter, the ground should slope down about six inches. If your grading needs improvement, use clean fill dirt, not top soil, to build up a slope around your house. Top soil is organic and will hold water against your home's foundation.

4. Check your trees
Every year falling trees and tree limbs cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage as well as personal injuries and deaths. Homeowners are the first line of defense against problem trees.

You'll need to check regularly for signs of damage or disease including cracks in the trunk or major limbs, insect infestations, trees that look one-sided or that lean significantly, branches hanging over the house or near the roof, limbs in contact with power lines or mushrooms growing from the bark signaling decay.

5. Secure your stuff
If you have furniture and other outdoor equipment on your patio or deck, bring them inside when strong weather threatens. Don't forget trash cans, grills, toys, and potted plants. Keep them from becoming flying objects that can cause additional injury or damage during storms with high winds.

Source: Cnn.com

About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.