It is always wise to be prepared for a storm. It is not just your own personal safety that you need to consider in extreme weather conditions, you also need to take measures to protect your building from storm in order to avoidable damage. If you prepare a checklist of things to do in the event of a storm approaching it could help you to minimize the damage by being proactive when it comes to protective and preventive measures.
Sensible strategies such as protecting your electrical supply system by using a good quality square D 50 amp breaker, and having emergency standby power, are just a couple of suggestions that are worth noting. Here are some useful tips on how to protect your building against a storm.
Start with the outside of your property
Flying debris can cause real damage to your property. That’s why you should plan to clear away outdoor items such as furniture and anything else that could inflict damage to the building if it gets caught up in the storm. In a violent storm, it is not unheard of to see garden items flying through windows. You can avoid this scenario by making sure everything is cleared away and all doors and windows are shut.
Invest in some storm shutters
Another good preventative step would be to install storm shutters. Your windows are likely to be vulnerable in a storm. Storm shutters provide an extra layer of protection and can help stop your windows from shattering.
Take steps to protect your electrical supply
As well as making sure you have good quality breakers that help prevent electrical damage it would also be a good idea to invest in a surge protection device for extra protection. Having a standby generator would also be a smart move so that you have power when your electrical system goes down in a storm.
Keep your trees trimmed
Power lines to your property could be impacted by falling trees or large branches snapping off. Regularly inspect your trees to see if you can give them a trim. That could help you to avoid damage to your property if a branch snaps and falls into your building or across a power line.
Look for potential weaknesses that could make your building vulnerable
If there are any aspects of your building that are vulnerable to extremes of weather you can be sure that a storm will probably expose these weaknesses. Inspect your property to see if you can do things to make your windows and doors stronger and more resistant to storm damage.
Have an escape plan
Last but not least, draw up an emergency plan that everyone in the property is familiar with. Knowing what to do and where to go in the event of an emergency could make all the difference. You can do what you can to make your home as storm-proof as possible but there may be a situation where it is no longer safe to stay in the property. Have an escape plan that you can put into action in the event of an emergency evacuation being required. Have you taken all the right steps to protect your building from a storm?
