How to protect your home and business

Times Staff

There are two important steps you should take to protect your property before a storm makes landfall.

First, call your insurance agent and review your coverage.

Make sure your policies cover recent improvements and any increase in value in this real estate market. You’ll also need a separate flood policy because home policies don’t cover that or storm-related water damage.

Second, fix what needs to be fixed. Hurricanes will exploit any damage, especially the roof. If that fails, it’ll allow wind and water to enter and severely damage your home or business. Here’s a checklist of what else you can do to protect your property

Secure and repair your home

• Roof tiles or shingles that are worn out or missing should be replaced.

• If the roof leaks, fix it.

• Inspect each window and door, and repair or replace them if needed.

• Remember to lock windows and doors before a storm. Install a heavy-duty bolt to doors to keep them secure.

• The garage door is another way for storm winds and rains to invade a structure. Consider bracing or reinforcing the garage door with a kit from a home improvement store. If the garage door needs to be replaced, don’t wait until the last second.

Clean the yard

• Trim trees and foliage to reduce the potential missiles a storm could hurtle at your home or business, or someone else’s

• Trimming trees around power lines is dangerous to do yourself. Hire professionals.

• Prune damaged or weakened limbs.

• Dying trees, trees with multiple trunks and newly planted trees are all potential problems. They may not be able to withstand a tropical system. If they are close to your house, check them for cracks, decay or weak roots. They may have to be removed.

• Don’t wait until the storm shows up to trim and clean up your yard or property If garbage day is canceled by the storm, those branches will become a pile of trouble sitting at the curb when tropical storm-force winds show up.

Eliminate flying objects

• Check around your home or business and secure anything the wind could pick up: outdoor furniture, flower pots, signs, etc.

• Store outdoor furniture inside, or sink them into the pool.

• Taping windows doesn’t protect them. What will is covering them with plywood that’s at least ⅝ of an inch thick. Google how to properly hang plywood. Or consider installing shutters.

• Keep tarps and plastic garbage bags on hand to cover up storm damage, such as a damaged roof or busted window.

Sandbags

• Pile sandbags in front of doorways and garages to keep out minor flooding. If a careless driver plows through a flooded street, sandbags can help prevent waves from ripplingintoahomeorbusiness.

• There are more effective variants, such as water-activated flood bags. They come in a variety of sizes some as long as a twocar garage and can be stacked together. They’re also reusable.

• Prepare the inside of the home or business for flooding. Get anything the water could destroy off the floor

BUI LD A BAG WITH EVERY THI NG you’ll need in a backpack or two if you have to evacuate.

• Air horns or whistles, to call for help

• Assorted batteries, including for hearing aids

• Backpacks, sturdy and waterproof

• Can opener (manual, never electric)

• Cash (no power or cell service means no credit cards or mobile payments)

• COVID-19 test kits

• Disinfecting wipes

• Extra clothing and socks, including something warm in case it gets cold

• First-aid kit

• Hand sanitizer

• Hand-held lanterns

• Headlamp and batteries

• Identification, insurance cards, etc.

• Insect repellent

• NOAA Weather Radio, battery or hand-crank

• Nonprescription medication (anti-diarrheal, pain relievers, etc.)

• Pandemic masks

• Pens and paper (don’t run down your phone battery by writing stuff down)

• Personal wipes (antibacterial)

• Phone charging cables, wall chargers

• Portable power banks for smartphones and tablets

• Rain jacket and pants/ poncho

• Rubber boots

• Safety work gloves

• Spare contacts and eyeglasses (also eyedrops)

• Spare keys to homes, businesses and vehicles

• Sturdy boots or shoes (and a backup pair)

• Sunscreen, lip balm

• Sleeping bags

• Toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss

• Water purification tablets

• Waterproof folders, for documents and photos

• Waterproof matches, lighter