Hurricane Preparedness Week: May 3-9: Strengthening Your Home & Tornadoes

All week long the National Weather Service will issue informative messages to help you prepare for the hurricane season. Today’s topic is Strengthening Your Home. 
 
If you plan to ride out the storm in your home, make sure it is in good repair and up to local hurricane building code specifications. Many of these retrofits do not cost much or take as long to do as you may think. Have the proper plywood, steel or aluminum panels to board up the windows and doors. Remember, the garage door is the most vulnerable part of the home, so it must be able to withstand the winds. 
 
Here are some tips for preparing and strengthening your home for tropical storms and hurricanes: 
 
 Keep trees around hour home trimmed well before a storm to prevent damage from broken branches.  Shop now for tested and approved window coverings to put up when a hurricane approaches.    Bring loose outdoor items, such as patio furniture, inside.  They can blow around and cause damage to homes.   Secure all doors on your property.  Remember that garage doors are the usually the most vulnerable.   Move your car inside a garage or to another secure location.  
 
For more information about strengthening your home, please visit http://flash.org.