In the Gulf Coast region, we have to deal with the threat of natural disasters for much of the year. From spring flooding to intense hurricanes and tropical storms to severe thunderstorms, there are usually dozens of natural disasters in and around the Gulf Coast region every year.
Although you cannot control Mother Nature, you can take necessary steps to help prevent or minimize damage to your home or business when the weather is at its worst.
Read on below to learn how to best prepare your home or business for the most common types of natural disasters we face in the Gulf Coast region:
How To Prepare for Hurricanes
If your home or business is located in a hurricane-prone area, it’s vital to have an emergency kit and an all-weather radio with backup batteries in case electricity is down and you are asked to evacuate the area. If evacuation is not necessary, have a “safe room” that is without windows and away from main doors and walls. You may also want to consider preventatively fortifying your home for added protection by covering windows and doors with plywood, storm shutters, or purchasing impact-resistant windows. The majority of hurricane damage is actually caused by the flooding rains and not wind, so it is vital that you purchase flood insurance if you live in a hurricane-prone area.
How to Prepare for Floods
If you live in a high-risk flooding area, you can help protect your home by sealing the basement with a waterproofing compound and building barriers such as floodwalls to decrease the amount of water that may get into your home—although this is not possible in flash flooding situations. In the event of a flood, disconnect electrical appliances and utilities, and move to the highest level of the home possible. If you are advised to evacuate, do so immediately. There is little you can do to prevent flood damage in your home without advanced warning, so if you live in or near a flood plain, you should absolutely invest in flood insurance. Failing to purchase flood insurance could leave you with tens of thousands of dollars in damages or more that you must pay out of pocket.
How to Prepare for Tornadoes
Tornadoes generally come with little or no warning. With winds sometimes exceeding 300mph, tornadoes can have devastating effects on even the most well-built properties. There is virtually nothing you can do to protect your property from tornado damage; however, there is plenty you can do to protect yourself, your family, or your employees. Most importantly, you should have a plan in the event that a tornado is heading toward your home or business. You should gather everyone into an interior room of the structure and crouch to protect yourself from falling debris.
How to Prepare for Hailstorms
Hailstorms are the least deadly of these natural disasters, but they can still cause extensive property damage. Hail can cause intense damage to windows, garage doors, roofing and siding, and can be potentially fatal to pets left outside. To preventatively protect your home, you may want to consider having your roof thoroughly inspected, and reroofing it if necessary, as that is the area of your home most susceptible to a hail assault.
Repairing Your Property After a Natural Disaster
If your property has sustained damage following a natural disaster, it is important that you find a licensed and trustworthy company to provide repair and restoration work. Unfortunately, there are many people out there who like to prey on home and business owners following natural disasters—taking their money and never providing any work—so always be sure to ask for proper licensing and certification before signing any contracts for repair work.
If you are in the Gulf Coast region and your house or building has sustained damage from flooding rains, hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, or any other form of natural disaster, contact the restoration experts at Action Restoration today! We have provided storm damage restoration and repair work to Gulf Coast businesses and families for more than 20 years. We’ll even help file the insurance paperwork to speed up the process and get your life back to normal as quickly as possible!
Contact us today by filling out a contact form or calling at 800-760-9081 today to get started!
