Hurricane Preparation

As the East Coast prepares for one of the largest storms to hit in fifty years, it’s important for homeowners to know how to protect themselves and their homes from catastrophic damage. Here are some good tips for homeowners living in the affected area:

1. Tape up your windows with gaffer’s tape or duck tape. You should make ‘X’s around the window, so in the event of a blowout, you and your family will be much safer. If the windows don’t break, duck tape is more difficult to remove afterward than gaffer’s tape.

2. Fill up your bathtub or a bucket. Should you lose water, you can use this as a supply for flushing the toilet. You can also fill up empty bottles and containers with tap water to use as drinking water instead of spending money and wasting plastic on disposable water bottles.

3. Fill Ziploc bags two-thirds of the way with water and place them in the back of your freezer.  If you lose power, these will help keep the freezer cold longer.

4. Remove any toys, equipment, chairs, tables and other debris from your lawn. These are likely to cause damage to your or your neighbors’ property when the storm’s winds are in full force.

5. If and when the power goes out, make sure all electrical items are turned off. That way, when the power comes back on, you won’t blow a fuse.

Well before a storm, you should make sure that your roof is solid without any soft spots or leaks. Also, check the foundation of your home to make sure there aren’t any cracks, dipping areas, etc. If you have a basement, it is more likely to flood if the foundation is poor and that can create long-lasting damage to your home. It’s also a good idea to make sure any trees close to the house are kept trimmed to prevent additional damage.

If you’re interested in exploring properties in Westford or elsewhere in MA, contact your local expert Gary St. Martin at (508) 397-1998 to get started today!

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