A Guide to Being Storm-Safe at Your Beacon Home

9/8/2020 (Permalink)

You can never be too prepared for a severe thunderstorm, be storm ready to help protect your family and home!

Thunderstorms are a common part of life, but they can also be dangerous or deadly—which means that just because they happen frequently does not mean they should not be taken seriously every time.

Severe thunderstorms can produce high winds, heavy rains, hail and lightning if conditions are right, all of which can be harmful to you and your home. Thankfully, through practicing storm safety, you can circumvent many of the issues that could arise due to storms.

Storm Safety for Every Element of Your Home in Dutchess County

-For the outside of your home-

Storms can lead to serious household damage that can be a potential headache to deal with. To prevent this damage from occurring, you can take several steps:

• Inspect your roof regularly for missing or loose shingles.
• Clean out your gutters at least twice per year.
• Bring in or secure patio furniture, potted plants and any other objects that could become projectiles in high winds. This includes pool furniture, outside toys, trampolines, pet supplies and garbage cans. How often do we see garbage cans sliding down the street in the wind? All the time.
• Consider installing a lightning protection system for your home.
• Trim trees near your home regularly to reduce the chances of dead limbs falling on your home. If you notice any near power lines, notify your electric provider immediately so they can deal with them quickly. Don’t try to trim any branches near power lines or transformers.

-Storm safety inside your home-

If severe weather is on the way, the best thing you can do is stay put and stay safe at home—and having a plan in place can help you make that happen:

• Keep a weather radio, flashlights and batteries handy as part of your emergency preparedness kit. Spare car chargers or cell phone battery chargers are a great asset in your emergency kit too.
• Designate a safe area of your home for your family to shelter from the storm—it should be an interior room without any windows. Make sure all family members know the plan and that your pets can be with you indoors as well.
• Use surge protectors on every outlet in case of lightning strikes.

 -Storm safety when you are away from home-

If you will be going out of town, it is important to make sure your home is still protected from a storm that might come through while you are away.

• Unplug all appliances and electronics in case of lightning strikes.
• Secure all outdoor furniture and possible projectile objects before you go away just in case.
• Be sure a trusted neighbor or family member knows you are going out of town so they can contact you if any issues arise.

If your home sustains storm damage, we’re here to help 24/7. Contact us today for more information about how we can help get you back to preloss condition quickly and effectively.