Preparing Your House for a Windstorm

You never know when a disaster will strike, and having the right insurance will protect your investment and your resources. Windstorm insurance covers damages caused by high winds. Windstorm insurance covers roof damage, window damage and damage to personal property if the wind enters the house and causes damage. Windstorm insurance can also cover detached structures such as garages and sheds.  

So, having windstorm insurance is just smart. But smarter than having the windstorm insurance is also taking preventive measures to protect against the damage of a windstorm. How? We are glad you asked!

• Annually, have your roof inspected by a professional. Monthly, walk around your house and inspect the roof. Look for loose shingles, downspouts or gutters that seem loose or are bending. If you see any of these, get them fixed right away. If a windstorm hits, it could take off the shingles and cause water damage. The windstorm can also rip away damaged downspouts or gutters and cause not only water damage, but roof damage as well.
  
• Each spring and fall, have dead tree limbs removed. Little limbs can seem insignificant, but they can get blown into your gutters and cause damage. So, twice a year have someone remove the dead tree limbs. If the tree is on public property, contact your city and let them know the problem. Keep track of notifying the city if there is damage before they take care of the problem.
  
• Each year, check shutters and outside decorations. Make sure they are securely fastened. If you have decorations that are not fixed in place, make sure they are in an area where a windstorm won’t carry them into a window. For patio/deck furniture, this is easily solved by using zip ties to loosely anchor the furniture.
  
• If you have sheds or other types of buildings, take the time to anchor those into the ground. Most home improvement stores sell anchors and will tell you how to use them. It won’t take more than 30 minutes to safely anchor those buildings.  

So, be smart and have windstorm insurance, but be smarter and prepare your house for high winds. Start protecting your home today.