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As rainy weather increases and Hurricane Season 2023 begins, the City of Cape Coral reminds homeowners to prepare their houses before inclement weather arrives.

Clean guttersBlocked gutters can damage your home or business and cause flooding:

• Clear storm gutters and downspouts of debris.
• Secure loose gutters and downspouts.
• Check for existing rain gutter damage.

Trim trees/horticulture Proper tree pruning helps trees survive hurricanes:

• Training young trees so they develop a sturdy, well-spaced crown of healthy branches along a dominant trunk. Maintain this form as far up into the tree as possible by reducing the length of competing stems and branches. 
• For trees larger than about 15 feet tall, it is recommended to consult with a certified arborist to prune your trees before the hurricane season. Help in finding local certified arborist can be found in the following link: https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist. 
• Ensure proper disposal of horticulture and cut branches, as they can become projectiles during a severe storm.

Check windows and doors and have a protection plan

• Make sure doors and windows properly seal, and repair/replace those that don’t.
• Verify that you have enough shutters and necessary hardware to cover non-hurricane impact glass.
• Purchase flood barriers or diversion devices for doorways and practice installing them.

Inspect your roof

• Check the roof for cracks and leaks.
• Inspect nails, caulk, and shingles and replace damaged or loose ones.
• Make sure braces are intact and replace missing ones.
• Consider installing truss tie-downs, also known as hurricane straps. They will fortify your roof even more and help it withstand gale-force winds.
• If your roof still needs repair or replacement following Hurricane Ian, ensure loose tiles are removed, and any tarp or covering is securely attached.

Make a hurricane kit Don’t wait for a named storm to be on the way. Be proactive and buy your supplies now.

Keep all these items in a plastic bin:

• Flashlight for each family member with extra batteries.
• Battery banks to charge devices.
• Three-day supply of water and non-perishable food. Each person should have three meals and one gallon of water per day.
• Three-day supply of clothing.
• First aid kit, eyeglasses, and medication.
• Pet food and supplies, including water.
• Hand-crank radio.
• Toilet paper and personal hygiene items.
• Trash bags and disinfectant wipes.
• Extra cash and important documents in a waterproof bag.
• Games and books.
• If possible, purchase a generator and window AC unit now.

Check your insurance policy

Become familiar with your insurance policy and ensure you have the coverage you need. To avoid losses, study your insurance policy thoroughly and adjust it to cover all possible damage and losses a hurricane may cause. Most policies come into action several weeks after purchase, so complete your paperwork now and make additional adjustments in advance. 

Original source can be found here.