Now is the Time to Make Your Coastal Home Disaster-Ready Before Storm Season

Getting your coastal home ready before disaster strikes can be a long, arduous process. So it's best to begin preparing way before hurricane or Nor'easter season approaches. Winter can be an ideal time to get a head start on such projects, as the busy season doesn't heat up until spring for many tree surgeons and handymen in Hampton Roads. Anyone remember runs on items at local stores? Products like generators, lumber, batteries and bottled water should be in stock now, so use this timing to your advantage.

It's important for homeowners to have a plan of action in case of disaster for a variety of reasons, the most crucial of which is peace of mind. Maybe a superstorm won't hit coastal Virginia; hopefully it won't, but the best course of action is to take precaution. Then no matter what happens, you know you and your household won't have to worry.

Amanda Gengler offers some tips on how to get ready for future disasters in her article, Protect Your Home: Lessons From Sandy. Hampton Roads homeowners may want to consider taking some of the following actions to prepare for storm season:

  • Purchase flood insurance.
  • Keep copies of important papers (birth certificates, insurance papers, mortgage papers, financial documents, medical records, etc.) in a waterproof bag.
  • Stockpile supplies like batteries, flashlights, nonperishable foods, bottled water and gasoline.
  • Thin large trees out so winds can easily flow through branches without knocking them down.
  • Plant native plants and grasses that soak up water to minimize flooding.
  • Purchase a generator or install a home generator.
  • Maintain home gutters.
  • Install storm windows.

Anyone with a home in coastal Virginia can begin preparing for disaster ahead of time so he can weather any storms without worrying.

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Categories: Home Improvement Regional

Cities: Virginia Beach Chesapeake Norfolk Williamsburg Newport News Hampton Suffolk Yorktown Richmond


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