Hurricanes are not little wind storms. Hurricane forecasters are predicting that the 2022 hurricane season will have 19 named storms with four major hurricanes. Any one of these storms can damage your home and cause you significant pain.

You must increase your hurricane protection right now. There are a few different steps you need to take, but you can take the first one by educating yourself here.

How can you assess your home’s risk for hurricane damage? What do you need to install to protect your home? How can you protect your garage, shed, and pool area?

Answer these questions and you can keep the next storm at bay. Here is your quick guide.

Evaluate Your Hurricane Risks

Some homes are at a bigger risk for hurricane damage than other homes. If you have a backyard, a gust of wind can throw your fencing or outdoor furniture into your home. If you live facing a body of water, you may need to deal with flooding or storm surges.

All homes must deal with heavy rain, strong gusts of wind, and tornadoes. You should inspect your roof to see if your shingles and roofing materials can withstand significant damage. You should also see if your basement can resist flooding.

The hurricane season begins on June 1st and runs until November 30th. Some of the most powerful hurricanes develop in August and September.

You should start your home improvement right now and follow the latest developments on hurricanes. You can visit the National Hurricane Center’s website and see what the weather forecasts are. You should also read tips from government agencies like the CDC to see what you should do before a hurricane.

Focus On Your Windows and Doors

If water and debris are going to enter your home, they’re probably going to come in through your doors and windows. Before a hurricane hits your area, you need to lock your doors and windows and move valuable items away from them.

Take a look at the seams around your windows and doors. If there are any gaps or holes in your caulking, you need to fill them.

You should install shutters over your windows. You can buy aluminum shutters, or you can make your own shutters out of aluminum sheets. Make sure the hinges for your shutters are sturdy, as you do not want a gust of wind pulling them down or into your windows.

You can also install aluminum or steel heavy-duty bolts. The bolts should keep your doors in place and help them form tight seals in their frames.

To increase your window protection, you can install storm or impact-resistant windows in your home. These windows have several layers of glass and other substances like polymer, which do not shatter under high winds. If you have plenty of time to protect your windows, you should install them as soon as possible.

Build a Safe Zone

You should evacuate before any major hurricane. You can ride out Category 1 and Category 2 hurricanes in your home, but you shouldn’t be sitting in your living room. You should create a safe zone for yourself and your family to ride out the storm.

The zone should be on your ground floor, away from doors and windows. If you don’t have a room away from your windows, you should install shutters and place aluminum panels over the glass so they don’t shatter.

You should stock your room with enough water and food for several days. You should also have medicine, a first-aid kit, and a battery-powered radio. You can put these items in a backpack or piece of luggage so you can take them with you if you need to leave.

Fortify Your Shed and Garage

Many people protect their homes but neglect their sheds or garages. A hurricane can destroy your shed and even throw it into your home.

You should move all valuable items out of your shed into your home. You should then take significant steps to protect your shed like filling gaps in your caulking and installing shutters.

Many shed and garage doors are flimsy, especially rolling doors on tracks. You should install vertical door braces so the doors don’t blow into your shed or garage. If those braces are not enough, you can add horizontal beams to increase their integrity.

Protect Your Pool

A lot of homeowners assume they need to drain their pools before a hurricane. In reality, the water in your pool provides weight to it, preventing a storm from ripping it out of the ground.

You should not put a cover on your pool, as a falling object may break through it and destroy the cover. You can install a pool screen enclosure around your pool, but you should have a vent so the wind can flow through it.

You need to turn off all electric pool equipment. This includes your pump motor, electric heater, and lights. You risk getting electrocuted or starting a fire if you keep these appliances on while the storm is going.

Start Your Hurricane Protection

Hurricane protection takes time and persistence. You need to evaluate what your risks for damage are, especially with broken windows and doors. You need to fortify them with aluminum shutters, sheets, and locks.

You should have a hurricane room in your house that is stocked with supplies. But you shouldn’t think only about your home. You should fix the doors in your garage, and you should have a sturdy screen enclosure for your pool.

Don’t wait for a hurricane to hit you. Pyramid Aluminum helps Tampa Bay residents. Get your free estimate today!