Hurricanes seem to get more robust and more plentiful every year, with shifting winds that mean they can change direction seemingly last minute. Unfortunately, these trends have left many communities that thought they would be safe from the storm unprepared for the violent winds, torrential downpours, and power outages. For your best chance to be prepared its important to take action with easy home renovation projects to protect your home during hurricane season.

The best way to make sure your home and family are prepared for the next big storm is to take advantage of non-hurricane seasons to weather-proof your home. We’ve compiled a list of easy renovation projects you can use to make your home ready for the next named storm to make landfall.

Windows and Shutters

One of the first steps in hurricane preparation is shuttering the windows so that flying debris can’t shatter them and enter your home. While some people choose to nail boards over their windows, making it necessary to tear those boards later out and leave gaping holes around your windows, companies are now providing impact-resistant shutters that are hurricane resistant and easy to install. These fit securely over and around your window to protect the glass during the worst of the winds. Some of these shutters are one-time installations that fit aside of your window when not in use, while others are installed just before a storm comes.

You can also install a tracking system for these shutters, something with permanent hardware that you simply fit the shutters into and out of when a storm is coming.

Overhaul Your Pumps and Drains

The highest recorded rainfall during a hurricane was 60 inches. Rainfall this heavy can easily flood your basement or crawl space, which can lead to thousands of dollars in damages, having to vacate your home, or even the house being condemned.

To avoid this, upgrade your drainage and sump-pump system. Having two drain tile layers can create redundancy in your drainage system. In addition, having heavier-duty sump pumps that have battery backup or are connected to emergency power will cover the high rainfall when the power inevitably goes out.

Keep The Power On

Of every hurricane that’s ever hit, there’s never been one that didn’t take the electrical grid out in some place or another. When this inevitably happens, you can be prepared ahead of time with a backup generator to power the essentials like your sump pump, fridge, or freezer, and a cell phone for contacting emergency responders. It’s important to note that building and zoning codes often dictate where a generator can and cannot be run, so it’s worth looking into what your municipality regulations are before the wind starts howling.

Protect Your Home With The Professionals

For more information on how you can protect your home and family from the next big storm, visit our hurricane preparation page here.