Is your Home Prepared for Hurricane Season?

While hurricane season will technically last until November, peak season will be upon us in the Triangle area beginning in mid-August and can be expected to last through October.  Although the Triangle isn’t known for necessarily getting hit with the worst of a hurricane, we have had our fair share of property damage and flooding as a result of them.  That being said, it’s time to make sure you have taken the proper precautions to protect your home and property from hurricanes!  

Here are a few tips to begin prepping for the peak of hurricane season in the Triangle:

Double-check your insurance policy!

When it comes to hurricanes and the strong winds that they produce, it’s always best to hope for the best but prepare for the worst.  In order to make sure you are fully protected, take the time to thoroughly go through your homeowner’s insurance policy.  Once you determine whether or not your home is protected from a hurricane, you should then read the fine print. 

While many policies cover hurricane protection, you’d be surprised at how many don’t include the floods that ensue, as a direct result, afterward.  It’s often the floods that cause an equal amount of damage, along with the extreme winds, so making sure that you’re protected from both is absolutely crucial. 

Once you’ve made a decision about flood coverage, you should also consider comparing the value of your home/the amount you are covered for vs. how much it would actually cost you to rebuild if your home is destroyed.  Oftentimes, it will cost homeowners more to rebuild than the actual value their home is covered for. 

Make sure you have proper surge protection.

During strong storms, power surges are common and can happen in the blink of an eye.  If this happens without proper surge protection in place, you could be left with destroyed appliances and electronics.  It’s important to make sure any appliance/electronic/heating/air conditioning unit is plugged into a protected outlet (not just during hurricanes, but always!).      

Have plenty of plywood on hand.

Covering your windows, and any doors with glass, isn’t something you’re going to want to do unless there is a need for it, so it’s important to have the supplies ready so you can quickly do so if the situation comes up.  Keeping plywood handy is a simple and affordable option to protect your home from extreme winds.  It’s important to have these materials ahead of time because they fly off of the shelves the moment a potential storm is announced. 

Seal all of your windows and doors. 

If they aren’t properly sealed, water damage could quickly occur inside of your home during a hurricane, coming directly through your windows and doors.  This is a routine maintenance measure that should be taken every couple of years, anyway (it could end up saving you big on your electricity bill!), so you might as well cross it off the list now!

Have all of the right supplies ready and stored (don’t wait to stock up!).

If your community suffers serious damage from a hurricane, you could end up without power or water for days.  It’s crucial that you have all of the right supplies and materials ready to go ahead of time!  For starters, it’s wise to invest in a battery-operated generator, just in case.  You’ll also want to make sure you have an ample supply of:

• batteries (make sure you have the right sizes)

• flashlights

• nonperishable foods

• extra water

• hand sanitizer and other various personal hygiene products

• disposable dinnerware

• napkins/paper towels

• necessary medications

• a transistor radio

• matches

• blankets

• first aid kit

• charged, portable phone chargers

• a bucket designated for flushing the toilets

With the higher than average temperatures and current droughts throughout the south, weather experts are predicting a 60% chance of a higher than normal hurricane season, with the potential of 13 – 20 named storms affecting North Carolina (6-10 of which are hurricanes).  With the already tropical storm activity, now is the time to make sure you, and your home, are prepared! 

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The Real Estate Market in the Chapel Hill area is HOT!! We have buyers searching for homes, but low inventory has been an issue. With home sale prices at all-time highs, it’s a GREAT time to list your home! If you’re considering listing this year, let’s talk. Put my expertise and local market knowledge to work for you to sell your home quickly for TOP DOLLAR! Call me at 919-414-0337 or email me at Masha@Mashahalpern.com