Let me say it again…hurricane season starts June 1st. If the amount of natural disasters this year doesn’t make you think a little more about being prepared I don’t know what will. Earthquakes and tsunamis aren’t at the top of the list in Texas, but drought, wild fires, flooding, tropical storms, hurricanes, and tornadoes are. They can affect you in some way. There are a few sources that recommend at least a 3 day supply of food and water on hand. I recommend twice that. Just in case you have visitors. The recommended minimum is 1 gallon of water per person per day. That gallon of water is for cooking, bathing, and drinking. If you don’t have a generator think about it now, not after you loose power. Look into the Hondas, they are quiet. And don’t forget to keep a supply of fuel for it. Prices for things are only going up so you might as well stock up now and save a little money: fuel, food, generators, water containers, bottled water, flashlights, batteries, battery operated fan etc. You may or may not need any of it, but if you loose power and/or water for a week it could make life a little more tolerable.
Another part of preparing for the storm season is regular maintenance around your home. Cutting tree limbs back away from the house so they won’t damage your siding or roof during high winds. Check the caulk around windows to minimize leaks during hard rains. Talk to a roofer about caulking around roof jacks and check the flashing. Check the weather-stripping around outside doors to see if driving rain can get in.
Make sure your homeowners insurance, flood insurance and windstorm insurance (if it is separate) is up to date and in force. Make sure the replacement cost of your home insurance is adequate. $65 a square foot is not adequate.
If you have questions about replacement costs, homeowner’s coverage, flood insurance, or windstorm coverage give us a call, we would be happy to discuss it with you.
