How To Prepare Your Home for a Storm

1/21/2022 (Permalink)

Prepare your Emporia, VA home for a storm following these important tips.

Your home in Emporia, VA, is probably one of your favorite places in the world. Flood water from a storm can quickly destroy the serene environment you have created there. Luckily, there are many things you can do to ensure that your home is ready for the next storm that comes its way.

Protect It From the Outside

The best way to avoid a flooded building is to keep the water from getting to it in the first place. There are several things you can do to stop or at least slow the flow of water toward your home:

• Direct downspouts away from the foundation
• Keep gutters clear of debris
• Collect sandbags or other barriers for emergency use
• Make sure the grade of your lawn slopes away from your home to control runoff
• Maintain a healthy lawn to prevent mass erosion

If the city hasn't already built ditches or trenches around your neighborhood, you can do it yourself on your property. Creating a place for water to safely pool during a storm can protect not only your home but others around it.

Install a Sump Pump

Even if your basement starts to flood, you don't have to panic, especially if you have a method in place to get rid of the water. A sump pump is designed to activate as soon as flood water reaches its sensor. It then starts to pump water out of your home through a discharge pipe.

Store Valuables Safely

Water damage remediation experts may be able to restore many items in your home after a flood. To ensure your most valuable or irreplaceable belongings are safe, though, you need to store them on the highest level possible. Keep mementos from your children's early years and your mother's wedding dress in the attic rather than in the basement. It may still be affected by high humidity, but there will probably be less damage. Make digital backups of your most important documents and use cloud storage to keep the information safe.

Locate Key Shutoffs

If water does get inside your home, you may need to shut off the water and electricity to prevent extra problems. During natural disasters such as hurricanes, your area's water supply may become contaminated. If you are past the precaution of a boil notice, it's best to just shut off the water main until the issue is resolved. Before the water in your home reaches the level of electrical outlets, cut off the power as a safety precaution.

Collect Emergency Supplies

If your whole area is flooded, you may be asked to evacuate. It's smart to take a supply of food and water with you, as you may not have access to the usual conveniences. You should also carry a first aid kit in your emergency pack just in case anyone in your family gets hurt during the trek to safety.

Your home may be your sanctuary, but a heavy storm or natural disaster can seriously disrupt your peace of mind. Take the necessary precautions to protect your house from damage due to flood water.