Most Common Mistakes that Homeowners Make During Hurricane Season

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 2021 hurricane season is expected to be above average, they are predicting 13 to 20 named storms, six to 10 hurricanes, and three to five storms that will end up being major hurricanes.

Here are just a few of the common mistakes that homeowners make when it comes to hurricanes and protecting their homes:

Wind speed 

Many homeowners underestimate the amount of damage that wind can do to their home. Hurricanes are rated on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale which assigns them a category rating from 1 to 5 based on maximum sustained wind speed. As an example, wind speeds of 74 to 95 mph are considered a category 1 hurricane while speeds of 157 or higher are considered category 5.

Even category 1 wind speeds can be dangerous and can easily damage your roof, vinyl siding as well as your gutters. Storms with this wind speed can also bring down branches and uproot trees. In addition, these types of winds can also result in power outages.

A power outage that lasts days can create its own set of problems. If your well pump or water tap needs power to work, it can impact your ability to have drinking water, flush your toilet or even take a shower. 

You should keep enough non-perishable food and drinking water for at least three days, any time a major storm approaches.

Don’t make evacuation plans

While wind can cause tremendous damage to your home, it is flood waters that are the deadliest aspect of a hurricane. Storm surge and flood waters can contaminate drinking water, ruin your food and hamper rescue efforts, leaving you stranded if you decide to ride out a hurricane in your home. 

It is best to evacuate as soon as you are aware a hurricane or other major storm is headed in your direction. Even a category 1 storm can do a major damage to your home, leaving you stranded without drinking water or food.

Here are a few tips to make sure you are ready to evacuate if necessary:

• Make sure your car is ready: Make sure your vehicle if fully gassed up and ready to go if a storm is on the way. If necessary, keep extra gas in jerrycans to ensure you can fill your car up when a storm hits.
• Plan your route: Have an evacuation route planned and printed out on paper in your vehicle. This will ensure that you know where to go when a storm hits.
• Evacuate early: If you wait to evacuate, the roads will be more crowded and nearby hotels will be full, leaving you to drive for hours looking for a safe place to stay. 

Not closing doors and windows

Leaving garage doors, exterior doors, or windows open can result in wind pressure getting into the house. If this pressure builds up during the storm it can actually blow the roof off of your house. 

When leaving your home to evacuate, or if you are riding the storm out at home, make sure all exterior doors, windows and garage doors are closed. If you want to improve your homes chances of surviving a hurricane you may want to add storm shutters, reinforce your garage doors, or add roof clips and hurricane anchors.

If possible, bring in all outdoor furniture which can quickly become deadly projectiles in hurricane speed winds.

Documenting damage for insurance claims

If your home is damaged in a hurricane or other major storm documenting the damage and your expenses will ensure that the claims process goes smoother. Here are a few tips to make filing a claim easier if your home was damaged in a storm:

• Home inventory: This should be done prior to a storm hitting. You should always maintain a home inventory. A detailed inventory will make the claim process much easier as you will have a record of all your possessions that were destroyed. There are numerous apps that make this process easier and store it in the cloud. 
• Save receipts: If your home is severely damaged you may need to stay in a hotel, eat at restaurants and even have your clothes cleaned at a laundromat. Keep all receipts related to storm expenses. Your policy may reimburse you for these costs, but you will need receipts to prove your expenses.
• Document the damage: As soon as it is safe to return to your home you should document the damage. Take photos and video of all the damage from multiple angles. Also photograph all your damaged possessions. 

Hiring a Contractor without checking references

Shifty contractors and other scam artists often flood into areas that have been hit hard by a storm, using people’s desperation and confusion to turn a fast buck. Roofing scams are common so you should always make sure you are dealing with a reputable contractor when having your home repaired. 

Avoid contractors going door to door soliciting work. Ask for references and make sure you call all of them to verify they are a reputable contractor. Also check all their insurance certificates and that they are licensed and bonded.