Hurricane preparedness is never easy, but if you are a homeowner living in south Florida it is something you should get accustomed to. There are plenty of steps you can take to prepare your home should you find yourself in the path of an impending storm or hurricane. It starts with an emergency kit and ends with installing hurricane shutters in Sarasota, FL. The following precautions are necessary if you hope to protect your home against high winds, unrelenting rain, and flying debris.   

Put Together an Emergency Kit 

This is something you should do long before any notification that a storm is coming through. Make sure you have an emergency kit complete with drinking water, food, medication, first aid supplies, and toiletries. These are things you cannot hope to go even a couple of days without.   

Prepare More Drinking Water 

You can’t survive without water, and when a hurricane comes through you might lose your water supply. So while you can you want to stock up on bottled water, getting at least a two week supply. If bottled water is not available, fill up some of your own containers with water before the storm hits. You might also consider filling your tubs or sinks with clean water to use for washing.   

Clean Up the Yard 

Debris is expected but you can help mitigate some of the mess by storing outdoor furniture, grills, bikes and other heavy objects. Otherwise, these items can get swept up by the wind and thrown into your home. Bring them inside or place them in a shed or garage.   

Close Interior Doors 

Preparing your home for a hurricane involves more than just closing exterior doors and windows. High winds coming through a broken window creates strong upward pressure which can cause the roof to blow apart and exposing your home to the elements. To help stop this you should close interior doors to compartmentalize the pressure and reduce the force.   

Check the Carbon Monoxide and Fire Detectors 

With power outages, you are more likely to turn to alternative sources of fuel and electricity. Unfortunately generates, grills, and camp stoves used for heating and cooking often cause a buildup of carbon monoxide. If undetected this could have fatal consequences. Be sure you check all the batteries in your detectors prior to the storm rolling through.   

Save Important Documents 

Scan all your important documents (birth certificates, passports, social security cards, family photos, etc.) and save them to a flash drive. Store this drive in a waterproof container and keep it with you. Then store the hard copies of your documents in waterproof containers in case you need to evacuate.   

Cover Exterior Windows and Doors 

Last but not least you want to make sure your windows and doors are covered and secured. There are several types of hurricane shutters in Sarasota, FL to choose from. If you need help finding the right products for your home visit Armored Dade Windows & Shutters. Our staff can walk you through the pros and cons of different products, as well as the pricing. Stop by 8112 Cortez Rd. West, Bradenton, FL. 34210 or call (941) 798-9010 to talk with one of our team members today.