Making sure your home is ready for a hurricane

Hurricanes can deal massive damage to homes. Here are a few tips that can help minimize the damage.

Transcript

00:00The power of a hurricane can severely damage or decimate a home. Take the proper precautions

00:10by following these important steps to minimize destruction and prepare for the worst-case

00:14scenario. Place storm shutters over your windows or board them up with wood. This will protect

00:19them from strong wind and flying debris. You can also buy impact-resistant windows. Keep in

00:24mind, taping will not prevent the glass from breaking and it may even ruin it. Stack sandbags

00:29at least two feet high around every entrance. This helps keep floodwaters out. Make sure

00:34the shrubs and trees are well trimmed. Hurricane force winds can turn outdoor items like patio

00:39furniture into flying missiles, so it's best to bring them inside. Be sure to secure porches

00:44and carports by referencing local codes and guidance so hurricane force winds won't rip

00:49them from your house. Clean out clogged rain gutters. Secure and seal your roof to make

00:53sure your shingles or tiles aren't cracked or missing, as this is the largest potential

00:57opening on your home. Older garage doors might be destroyed by strong wind or debris. It's

01:02recommended that you bolt horizontal supporting beams to the top and bottom of your garage door's

01:07frame. You can also have vertical braces to help enforce the doors. Review your insurance

01:11policies to make sure they cover the full cost of rebuilding your home for at least wind and

01:16tornado perils. Many homeowner insurance policies cover damage from a hurricane, but not the floods,

01:22so consider flood insurance as well. Take photo inventory of your property, so if you need

01:26to replace something, you'll know exactly what it is and how much it's worth. For more

01:30safety and preparedness tips and tools, visit AccuWeather.com slash ready.