As warmer weather moves into our area, the chances of destructive thunderstorms, floods, and tornadoes greatly increase. The agents at Elite Insurance Solutions have much experience with dealing with the aftermath of extreme weather by helping clients take care of storm-related damage. Unfortunately, these types of storms are becoming more and more typical. According to HouseLogic, an online resource for homeowners that is sponsored by the National Association of Realtors, home insurance prices have gone up as much as 30% over the past 15 years because the number of natural disasters that have caused $1 billion or more has doubled. To be the best prepared against Mother Nature, we would like to share with you some tips from HouseLogic on protecting your home from any extreme weather event.
Install a standby generator.
One of the most common occurrences during severe storms is a power outage. Storm-related blackouts are on the rise, and an average of 147 million customers have been without electricity for at least one hour as a result of severe storms. The event of a catastrophic tornado or flood could cause an affected home to be without power for weeks. Installing a standby generator that runs on natural gas or liquid propane can guarantee the operation of essential appliances like the sump pump that protects your basement from flooding. Able to restore power in seconds, the generator is wired directly into the electrical system of your home. While the price does vary depending on the wattage needed and the size of your home, a permanent generator can be expensive. If you are on a budget, a portable generator costs much less and can be just as helpful in the case of an emergency.
Increase the impact resistance of your home.
To protect your home against damage from strong winds, you have several options. If you have a gabled roof, you can add truss bracing to boost stability. Installing impact-resistant doors and windows can keep high winds from causing structural damage to your home as well as reduce outside noise, protect your house from intruders, and keep heated or cooled air from escaping.
Flood-proof your home.
The floods that devastated many parts of Tennessee in May 2010 taught us all some valuable lessons. A flooding retrofit that follows the guidelines set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Flood Insurance Program is the best way to protect your home from flood damage. The first level of your home must be elevated to at least flood level. You must also dry flood-proof your home by using materials like concrete to make any part of your home under flood level watertight. This will allow it to withstand floodwaters for at least 72 hours. Along with dry flood-proofing, you must wet flood-proof your house by making changes that will allow floodwater inside the home to minimize damage.
Want to learn more about protecting your home from storm damage? Contact Elite Insurance Solutions to talk to our agents about keeping your house and family safe in extreme weather events.