by Brigitte Sands

Created on: December 20, 2008   Last Updated: April 29, 2012

Preparing your house for hurricane season should be in your thoughts at least a month or two before the hurricane season begins, why that length of time?Preparing your house requires others help and their time schedule as well, whether its a neighbor,friend or a company especially. If you are a new homeowner living in the areas hurricanes travel, getting your home in order requires protecting your family,your home & its contents.

The list below will help you prepare your house for the hurricane season:

• Hurricane Insurance

• Measuring sizes for each window and door frame outside for shutters—having shutters made for each window, if you are a carpenter or know someone then DIY. (There are many companies that specialize in providing this service).

Also write on each shutter the window it belongs too on which side of the house,you will always know which window the shutter goes to and leaving them up all season long is a health hazard to those with allergies to mold and mildew.Take them down when all is safe and clear.

• Remove any items that can be blown about by strong winds: (i.e:Hose, grill, lawn furniture, canopy, storage unit, toys, drain pool, etc).

• Trim or cut down trees that wind can pull up by the roots or fall on power lines

• Have sandbags ready for high tide areas to place in front of low doors or walkways

• Tie down trailers with boats or jet skies, if possible take them to a boat storage unit

• Fix any known leaks in your roof or window sills in the house or car

• Keep car away from tall trees if at all possible

• Fill car with fuel

• Fill prescriptions

• Gallons of water

• Spray Styrofoam; this is a good sealant

• Radio/CD player

• Fill gallon bottles with water a month or so before season begins, you may not drink it but you can use it for many other things

• Purchase canned groceries thats non-perishable; flash lights, batteries, candles, matches, kerosene lamp and oil, propane gas stove/cylinders, toilet paper, Scot towels, hand sanitizer, aspirin, etc.  You may even find bargains through out the off season that you can purchase and keep packed away in a plastic container or a closet just for hurricane season supplies.  So when the hurricane season arrives if you never made it to the shop you will know you have something in storage. Also in preparing your house, remember your pets and have supplies handy for them.

• Unplug all electrical items in the home that's not in use,when the power does go of unplug the fridge/heater/AC.Some have been electrocuted through this negligence.

Preparing your house for hurricane season for those of you in the tropical zone can become a nuisance even when you have prepared your house and the hurricane does not come over you and the weather channel as urgently requested you either prepare your house and/or leave involuntarily.  Dealing with the traffic, people and jobs will be stressful but in the end as long as you have protected your family which is more important then anything, and have prepared your house for the hurricane season you will have done the best you can do and should your lives be saved because of your actions then it will be worth it all.

Never go out in the storm, even when the eye of the hurricane passes over because the next wave is on its way, don't be caught unawares!

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