How can you protect your home from heavy rains? Although you may not be able to control the weather or occasional natural disasters in your area, there are, thankfully, several preventative measures that are well within your control. If you’ve been wondering, “How do I prepare my house for rainy season?” you may already be on the right track. From getting Flood Insurance to doing a thorough home check to raising any items within the flood line in your home and more, taking action now can help prevent a potential catastrophe later. If your area is expecting heavy rains this fall, here’s what you need to do to get ready.
Conduct a Thorough Home Check Before the Start of the Fall Season
Before the fall season officially arrives, it’s important to conduct a thorough home check to make sure your home is as prepared as possible for potential heavy rains. Ensuring your house is in good shape and fixing any potential problems early can help you avoid a headache later on. Make sure you:
Check that window seals are watertight
Shift downspouts to carry water away from your property
Avoid leaving unanchored fuel tanks in your basement
Have an electrician move up all important electrical components
Clean your sump pump thoroughly
Remove Precious Items From Your Basement and Raise Key Items
Once you’ve worked through a basic home check list, the next step is to go through your basement, move sentimental items elsewhere and raise other objects away from the flood line in case heavy fall rains seep in. Remember to:
Lift your water heater and furnace from the floor
Make sure your washer and dryer are situated at least 12 inches above the ground
Put all important items on higher shelves
Remove any precious or irreplaceable sentimental items from the basement
Make Sure Your Family Has a Flooding Emergency Plan in Place
After doing your home check and adjusting your basement as needed, you may want to flesh out a flooding emergency plan for your family in the event of heavy rains that may negatively impact your property this fall. It’s important to:
Set up emergency contact numbers for your family
Designate an escape route in case your home floods and you need to evacuate
Designate a meeting spot or an out-of-town location you can stay in case you need to leave your home suddenly
Practice going over your emergency plan with your family well before the fall starts
If you’re concerned about the potentially damaging effects the rain could have on your home this fall, make sure to work through this preventative checklist as soon as you can. By getting Flood Insurance, doing a home check-up at the start of the season, raising key items, storing sentimental objects safely and drafting an emergency plan for your family, you can help keep your home and your loved ones dry and safe.
About Brooks, Todd & McNeil
Since 1839, the independent agents at Brooks, Todd & McNeil have been pleased to offer our community the best and most affordable policies from a variety of providers. Our dedicated facilitators are ready to put their 75 years of combined experience to work on your claims. To learn more about our products and services, contact us today at (800) 448-4567.