As the beginning of hurricane season looms near, homeowners in Jacksonville need to prepare early and take the necessary precautions to avoid disaster should we be faced with a storm.
Though Jacksonville narrowly avoided a direct hit from Hurricane Irma or Matthew in recent years, the flooding and damaging winds left a hefty bill for the city and local homeowners as they began to put the pieces back together.
So as June 1st and the start of hurricane season approaches, let’s all be prepared and take the necessary steps to protect homes and each other!
5 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Hurricane Season in Jacksonville, FL
- Update and review your insurance policies. Most homeowners have enough insurance to cover the actual value of their home but repairs or a total rebuild can be costly. With construction costs on the rise, you may have to come out of pocket to cover those repairs. Coverage limits and deductibles may apply with most policies, so be sure to read all the fine print.
- Take inventory of all valuables. It is important to not only take inventory of personal items but also take pictures and get an estimate of how much each one costs. An inexpensive phone app, like III Inventory, can easily keep track of all items and provide a cost breakdown of each. It can also save time by keeping this information on your phone or exporting to an Excel spreadsheet for easy access.
- Trim or remove damaged trees or limbs. By taking the necessary steps to prepare your home for high winds, cutting back any low hanging limbs or dead trees can save a lot of money in repair cost. If you can’t personally take the time to do this yourself, now is the best time to hire a tree cutting company to do the work for you. Once hurricane season starts, tree companies can get backed up for months leaving you with large debris to clean up yourself.
- Secure rain gutters or down spouts. Not only is securing gutters and down spouts smart in case of high winds but it also allows the rain to flow away from your house instead of puddling up leaving you with potential foundation issues in the future.
- Inspect your roof for any issues. Your roof is the largest protector of your house and the one thing you don’t want compromised in the event of a hurricane . Schedule to have an inspection of your roof now because just like tree companies, roofing companies get backed up as well if a hurricane hits. You can also do this inspection yourself by checking for any loose tiles or shingles and securing them. Also make sure chimney caps and satellite dishes are secure.
Our goal is to make sure that Jacksonville and our neighbors are prepared to the fullest in case a hurricane does hit the First Coast this season. If you have any questions about the best way to prepare or need recommendations on companies to help you get ready, give us a call and we will be happy to help! 904-416-9398