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How To Prepare Your Home for a Storm
You can't stop severe weather, but you
can prepare for it. Here are some valuable suggestions for
preventing damage caused by high winds:
Appliances - Purchase sturdy
"L-brackets" from your local hardware store. Use
them to anchor your major appliances to the walls or counter-tops
of your home. Watch out for electrical hazards and always
hire a professional if necessary.
Cupboards - Put child safety
locks on your upper and lower cupboards to prevent spillage.
Pictures and Wall Decorations - Use
"V-hooks" to mount artwork instead of nails. These
hooks enable pictures to shift without falling from the wall.
Roof - Now's the time to prevent
water leakage caused by high winds. If you have a metal roof,
recoat it if needed. Metal roof coating is available at lumber
yards and hardware stores. If you have a shingle roof, make
sure the shingles are not loose or flapping in the wind. Special
coatings and roofing cements should be available at your local
home improvement store.
Debris and leaves - Keep your
roof completely free from debris that can cause rot and deteriorate
both metal and shingled roofs.
Exterior repairs - Make sure
your manufactured home skirting is properly vented to allow
water vapor to escape. If needed, repair your exterior siding,
awnings, gutters, downspouts and brackets - especially if
they're loose, damaged or dangling.
Water heater - Securely attach
your water heater and furnace to your home. Call a professional
if necessary and always watch out for energy hazards.
Utilities - Learn how to shut
off the electricity in your home, as well as water and gas.
If there's time, turn off these utilities before you leave
your manufactured home to seek shelter.
Hazardous objects - Keep your
yard free of poles, shovels, bikes and other lose articles.
These can quickly become hazardous flying objects during a
severe storm.
Beneath your home - Don't store
flammable, caustic or hazardous material beneath your manufactured
home - not even newspapers or grass clippings.
Tie-downs - Have a trained professional
install proper tie-downs on your home and sheds.
Windbreak - Establish a windbreak
around your property if possible. Tall trees provide a natural
windbreak, but remember to trim healthy trees and remove dead
limbs.
Windows - Consider replacing
older windows with modern impact-resistant glass.
Find
out more!
You can pick up free copies of the latest
Foremost Insurance safety guides from your local Foremost
agent. For the name of the authorized agent nearest you, call
1-800-237-6136.
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