Trim Your Trees And Save Your Home From The Dangers Of Hurricane Season

Hurricane season is still upon us. Of these hurricanes, there is the possibility that 3 to 6 of them will reach a category 3, 4 or 5, with winds reaching up to 111 mph.

Hurricanes develop off the coastlines, but that doesn’t mean inland homes are free and clear of potential storm damage. Strong winds can knock down trees and power lines. Flooding from rain can also threaten inland areas. Wondering how your home can weather the storm? There are several steps that can help prevent extensive damage to your home.

Assess The Structure And Durability Of The Trees Surrounding Your House

A survey by Chubb Personal Insurance found that more than 41 percent of the 1,004 surveyed are afraid of a tree falling on a loved one. Here's advice from Chubb on how to spot unstable trees:

Two main tree trunks. If a tree near your home parts into two main tree trunks, it is more structurally unstable and has a higher risk of falling.

Root damage. Signs of root damage can be seen above ground. These signs include dead branches or severe leaning. If a tree is leaning so much that it needs to be braced, the tree could have severe root damage.

Longitudinal cracks. Longitudinal cracks are dangerous when the point of origin is located between two diverging branches. A crack like this would have a difficult time surviving severe winds.

Decay and rot damage. If there is a tree in your backyard with more than 40 percent decay, cavities or rot covering its surface, the tree runs a high risk of falling.

Make sure you pinpoint the trees that could hit your house if they fell. If there is a problem tree in this zone, consider removing it. Contact a tree professional to get their opinion before you start any major removal. Look for arborists certified by the International Society of Arboriculture.

Waterproof Your Home

According to disastersaftey.org there are a few quick ways you can reduce flooding damage to your home:

Waterproof paint. To prevent exterior damage to your home in the case of a flood, use a waterproof paint to protect the walls inside your home.

Watertight shields. To keep water from seeping into your home, install a watertight shield to all openings, such as doors and windows.

Raise electrical system components. Raising this equipment above the projected flood level will not only prevent electrical damage, but also protect your home from potential short circuit electrical fires from flooded systems.

Review Your Homeowner’s Insurance Policy

While insurance won’t cover prevention, many policies cover tree related damage, removal and replacement. Flood damage, however, is covered separately from your homeowner’s insurance.