How To Prepare Your Home For A Tropical Storm
As far north as it is, Maryland isn’t exactly Hurricane Central: that honor goes to Florida, and to a lesser extent the Gulf Coast. However, hurricanes and tropical storms still make their way north along the East Coast on a regular basis, and Marylanders should know what to do when heavy rainfall and high winds pay a visit.
1. Have A Flood Evacuation Plan
If you live in an area where flooding is a risk, you should have a plan for what to do if you get the warning. Know what to take with you, where to go, how to get there, and who to contact. You should also keep three days of canned food and pure water in a place the flood waters won’t reach in case you get stranded.
2. Prepare For High Winds
The high winds of a hurricane or tropical storm can cause problems of their own. Dead and damaged trees and tree limbs often break loose and damage homes, so keeping your trees trimmed isn’t just a beauty issue, it’s a safety issue. Many homeowners prepare for hurricanes by reinforcing their windows, doors, roofs, and garage doors, but you should balance the expense of this step with how likely it is to matter in your area.
3. Waterproof Your Home
This step doesn’t have to be particularly difficult. Most houses include things like gravel backfill, underground drainpipes, and (where needed) sump pumps to keep water from buckling basement walls or cracking foundations. However, there are also a few things you can do to make sure this waterproofing system is still working: clean out your gutters to make sure rainwater doesn’t fall right next to the foundation, fill in any holes or divots where water is collecting along the walls, and clean the leaves out of your basement window wells if they start to build up.
AA Action Waterproofing can also help with waterproofing your basement and foundation, both before and after the construction work ends. If you live in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, D.C., New Jersey, or Delaware, contact us anytime to get a free estimate on how we can help protect your home from water damage or repair any damage already sustained.