There are lots of hurricane preparedness lists circulating for food, water, batteries, etc but since we know the rain and wind won’t be here until later this week, there are things you can do now to help your home deal with the wind and rain:
1) Clean debris from vent wells (the semi-circle around your foundation vent) and from your foundation vents – this includes leaves or mulch. Air is supposed to go into the vents, not water
2) Make sure gutter downspouts are sending water far away from your foundation. You can use splashblocks or black pipe to send water further away from your house if your downspout terminates right at your foundation
3) Disconnect rain barrels and divert the gutters away from your house. Rain barrels won’t accommodate the amount of rain we are expecting
4) Double check and make sure all house windows are closed. Do you ever leave one open at the top in a bathroom or bedroom? You don’t want driving rain to leak into your house
5) There is still time to caulk if there are areas on the outside of your home that are prone to leaking. If you’re worried about your roof, buy a tarp and put it on top of stored items in your attic to protect them from possible water damage
6) Secure or take down anything in your yard that can blow away. Not just furniture; look for flags, yard art, bird houses/feeders, small kids’ playsets, toys, trash cans, address signs, wind chimes, string lights, etc.
7) If you own a wet/dry shop vac, double check where it is, that it is working and that you have the accessories and extension cord in case you need to use it or help a neighbor
8) If you have a basement or any stored items in your crawlspace, make sure everything that could be damaged by water is off the floor and in plastic storage containers
9) Do you know how to open your garage door if the power goes out? If you have a garage door opener, read this.
10) Think about where you park your vehicle before the storm hits. Be careful of trees and if there are areas that may be prone to flooding. Consider backing into the space so you can pull out easily.
Please be safe and do your best to be prepared.
