Sealing Up Your Vacation Home for Hurricane Season

Your vacation home provides so much for you and your family. Now, it needs your attention to protect it. The forecasts are for a very active hurricane season in 2021. Additionally, meteorologists indicate a trend for more hurricanes to move further north than in the past. 

As a leading provider of NJ Coastal Home Insurance, we’ve been on the front-line in the  terrible aftermath of hurricanes that hit our region for decades. Using our extensive experience,  we created this guide on how to prepare your vacation home for hurricane season to help you  protect your treasured asset. 

It makes sense to safeguard your vacation home by inspecting everything around it that a hurricane might affect. 

External Inspection and Repair 

Inspect: 

● All windows and doors for leaks and reseal where needed. 

● Your roof for broken or cracked tiles or shingles and repair and replace defective parts. ● Seams on your roofing and reseal any weakened areas. 

● Your external structures in your yard, deck, patio, pools, spas, and outbuildings to make sure they are winterized, tied, and locked down. 

● Check your foundation for cracks or signs of stress and repair immediately. ● Check, upgrade or add additional metal roofing straps where needed. ● Check and clean your gutters and downspouts. 

● Remove any obstructions that keep water from moving away from your home. Prepare Landscaping, Yard & Deck 

● Shut off the water and drain irrigation systems. 

● Cut back or remove any shrubbery or other vegetation that is overgrown or too close to your home. 

● Trim trees for fullness to make air passable and cut back or remove any limbs that are too close to your home or other structures. 

● Store all outside furniture and other loose items inside. 

● Look for and fix loose steps, posts, railings, gates, and any structural component that is not secure and could come loose in a violent storm. 

Fortify Your Garage 

Garage doors are a major weak point against hurricane-force winds. Whenever possible, secure and tie down any valuables you store inside the garage in the event your door gives way.

● At a minimum, strengthen your garage door, which is likely to be flimsy, with vertical braces. 

● Install horizontal beams to strengthen your garage door further. 

● Consider installing weather and impact-resistant garage doors if your budget allows. Basement 

● Check internal basement walls for foundation cracks or other signs of irregularities. ● Remove valuables from the basement, or get them as high off the floor as possible, and use sealed watertight containers to store items where applicable. 

● Install a sump pump to help keep moisture from seeping into the basement. ● Check all windows and doors for cracks, seals, and locks. 

Internal Inspection and Repair 

● Check your attic for any leaks, cracks, or seams and repair them. 

● Check your roof trusses and gables that they are in good repair, braced adequately, and able to withstand hurricane winds. 

● Check doors, windows, and vents for drafts, leaks, cracks, or other signs of deterioration—repair as needed. 

● Remove valuables to a safer location if possible. 

● If flooding is possible, get as much furniture and other items off the floor. ● Beef up your door locks as a secondary precaution against strong winds and looters. 

Personal Preparation 

If you plan to spend time in your vacation home during hurricane season, it’s critical to be ready for the worst to happen. 

● Make a family disaster plan. Find the safest spot in your home to ride out a hurricane. Make sure every family member knows where this spot is. 

● Create a survival kit. You’ll need a several-day supply of water, non-perishable food items, prescriptions, and medicine for each occupant. Include a first-aid kit, flashlights, fuel and/or battery-powered lanterns, batteries, phone chargers, hand-crank or battery-powered radio and flashlight, and other items your family will need post-hurricane time. 

● Extra clothing, blankets, and waterproof gear are advisable. 

● Install a portable generator to supply power if your home is without electricity for a long spell. Make sure it is operational before the start of the season. Keep any fuel-burning generator’s exhaust as far away from your home as possible to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. 

● Create an evacuation plan. It’s better to leave early than late when hurricanes are forecast. Know your route and have a destination set, so you know where you are going. Have each family member know what they will take in a hurry. Keep a stash of water,

food, clothes, blankets, medicines, prescriptions, and a first-aid kit ready to go in the event of an evacuation. Keep your gas tank topped off at full. 

There is always more you can do to secure your vacation home in the event of a hurricane, but we are confident if you do this much, you will have the best possible outcome should a storm come ashore and hit your vacation home. 

Check Your Homeowners Insurance 

It’s an excellent idea to review your homeowners policy with your agent annually. Things change, and a quick check-up can give you peace of mind that your insurance can help repair or replace whatever is damaged by a hurricane if the worst happens. 

We are your neighbors at the Dickstein Agency, and many of us also enjoy coastal living like  you. We take a personal interest and great pride in helping our clients protect their homes with  customized coverage shopped among top insurance carriers to get you competitive rates. 

About Dickstein Associates Agency 

Dickstein Associates Agency has distinguished itself as a leading provider of personal and business insurance in the tri-state area since 1965. We pride ourselves on being advocates for our clients and providing them with quality and affordable coverages. As Trusted Choice™ independent insurance agency, we partner with various national and regional carriers, allowing for flexible coverage for each client’s unique circumstances. For more information on how you can leverage all your insurance to work best for you, and how we can secure the best insurance in the marketplace suited to your specific needs and business objectives, contact us today at (800) 862-6662 or www.dicksteininsurance.com.