There are an average of 10.1 storms every single year in the US. Of this number, nearly half become hurricanes, and 2.5 become major hurricanes. Everyone knows the damage weather changes, wind especially can cause to your home, especially if you live in an area regularly hit by such weather conditions.

Being prepared for a storm is something every homeowner needs to know how to do regardless of if you experience one major storm every few years or you get battered by them seasonally.

Read on for tips on preparing for storms and storm damage.

Insurance

You must ensure you have storm insurance in place either as a standalone policy or as part of your homeowner’s insurance. If you live in an area frequently ravaged by storms, you could be checking out policy carefully for any financial limits or exclusions, so you know what you can and cannot claim for before you need to make a claim. Storm season in the Pacific usually runs from the end of June to November, but it can extend outside their months in some cases too. So before you enter storm season, check that your policy is up to date and what exactly you can claim for.

Emergency Supplies

Emergency supplies are vital when facing the threat of a storm. You need to keep a bag in the car or a safe place in your home if you need it. Items such as dried snacks, protein bars, bottled water, batteries, flashlights, socks, blankets, and first aids kits are all staples in emergency kits as well as emergency contact details, medication and a list of medical conditions or allergies, and anything else that would be useful for your family specifically. A wind-up radio can help if the phone service is down or you lose power, so you can still tune into what is happening in the area regarding weather updates or emergency evacuations.

Emergency Plan

Talk to your loved ones and plan what to do in different scenarios if you experience a storm that disrupts your daily routine. Have your main point of contact and then a chain of command in place. Find your quickest routes from home to evacuation points, to work, and so on, so people know how long it will take them to commute if need be. Will you be hunkering down at home in a storm shelter, or will you stay at work if you are there already? Talk to your family about what you will do and who they should contact once you need to activate emergency plans.

Damage Control

You can protect your home in several ways if you live in the path of frequent storms. From installing weatherproof windows to clearing drains, removing loose items outside such as garden furniture or children’s toys, moving things upstairs if your home is likely to have food, turning off utilities, and using sandbags can all be beneficial and help minimize damage. You should also have a plan in place for repairing storm damage too. So once it is safe to do so, you can survey your home and get started on making it habitable again if possible.

Living through a severe storm can be a terrifying experience. Whether you do this frequently or not. Knowing how to stay safe and protect your property can go all way to make this natural disaster easier to deal with and line up after and help to keep you as safe as possible until the danger is over.