Natural disasters like storms, hurricanes, flooding, and earthquakes affect millions of lives every year, and sadly there is little you can do about this. A statistical report suggested that the UK will spend about a record of £5.2bn to tackle flooding in 2021. This shows that natural disasters don’t pose only a severe threat to life but can cause significant damage to what is probably your life’s most prominent investment- your home. So how can you protect your home from these unpredictable disasters? Here are four practical tips to consider.
Caulk your doors and windows
During a terrible storm, strong winds can blow rainwater hard enough to cause some damage to your home. The water can find its way into your home through the holes and cracks found around your windows. This moisture can seep inside your home and cause significant damage. Thankfully, you can prevent this by applying a new coat of caulk around your home’s entry points before the rainy season starts. You might want to do this before priming and painting your interior door frames and wood interior trim. This creates a smoother and more convenient home.
Keep your storm drains clear
Storm drains are designed to drain excess rain and groundwater from various surface areas in a residential area, such as a paved street or a sidewalk. Over time, these drains are clogged with debris. In tropical storms or a hurricane, this can be detrimental as it could cause floods that could damage your home. Therefore, you can protect your home by ensuring that the storm drains are always clear. This way, the water can’t build up to cause flooding.
Get homeowner insurance
Getting your home insured is an excellent idea as it offers reliable and beneficial assistance and protection. In the case of a natural disaster, your insurance can help you make claims if your house has suffered some damage. However, this is not the case for every insurance policy. It is vital to ensure that the policy you go for covers damages caused by natural disasters. If your current insurance plan doesn’t cover such damages, it is advisable to have separate insurance cover for natural disasters, significantly when your current insurance doesn’t cut it.
Find out the extent of the damage
Suppose your home was subjected to a natural disaster. In that case, a great way to ensure your home is well maintained is to check for any damages. Look at significant areas such as your roof for any broken, torn or missing shingles. In cases of flooding, you might want to get an electrician to check your home power supply system’s overhead or in your basement areas. You can hire the services of an accredited level 2 electrician to help you spot some problems in electrical systems and get ahead of any future issues.
While you can wait until a natural disaster is imminent to take some of these tips would help you keep your home protected from the damages and stresses natural disasters cause.
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