Hurricane season in Florida starts June 1 and runs through November 30. Now is the time to start preparing your disaster plan and protecting your home. The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety published a pamphlet that highlights key areas and components of a house and discusses methods to reduce risk of hurricane related damages. Below is an excerpt from the pamphlet.
The coastal area from Texas to Maine is home to tens of millions of people with $9 trillion worth of insured property that is exposed to the threat of hurricanes. Building science research has identified the areas of a home most at risk from hurricane-force winds and rains. The following information offers guidance for strengthening these areas, which will lead to a reduced risk of damage, fewer repairs, and also may qualify your home for a designation through the IBHS FORTIFIED for Existing Homes™* program.
* IBHS FORTIFIED for Existing Homes™ program offers three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold designed to help strengthen existing homes through retrofit techniques that will ward off damage from specific natural hazards. Hurricane damage usually starts with the roof, so that is the place to start to make your home less vulnerable. If the roof is old or showing signs of damage or decay and needs to be replaced, re-roofing will significantly strengthen your home against hurricanes. The roof cover should be removed down to the sheathing. Sheathing should be checked for any damage and replaced as needed. Choose a high-wind rated roof cover and make sure ridge and off-ridge vents also are rated for high winds. Prepare to be able to shutter any gable end vents before a storm strikes or replace them with products rated for resistance to wind-driven rain intrusion. Soffits are vulnerable during a hurricane, so check the attachments. If your home has a gable end with a roof overhang greater than 12 inches, have the structure of that overhang checked and, if needed, braced. Find specific recommendations for how to carry out these retrofits at www.DisasterSafety.org/FORTIFIED.
For the complete pamphlet, please visit Disastersafety.org
