Do you have a hurricane preparedness plan? If you live in or near the coastal regions of Georgia, you should be ready for the three major hurricane hazards: storm surge, flooding and wind. Here are some of things you should check to make sure your home and your family are prepared to survive a hurricane.
Hurricane Preparedness - Protecting Your Family
There is nothing more important than protecting your family during a hurricane, and there is no better way to do that than to be prepared. Here is a brief hurricane preparedness checklist.
- Use an NOAA weather radio and make sure it has working batteries at all times.
- Build a Disaster Supply Kit.
- Post emergency phone numbers by your phones and store them in your cell phones. Teach your children how to call 911 - It's never too early for them to learn!
- Take First Aid, CPR and disaster preparedness classes.
- Identify a safe room or safe area in your home. If you live in an evacuation zone or mobile home, locate a safe building or shelter in your community.
- If you live in an evacuation zone, plan your evacuation routes ahead of time. Identify places to meet in case family members get separated, and evacuate when local officials advise it. Don't wait before it is too late to get out!
- Move outdoor furniture, lawn tools, hoses, plants and other loose objects indoors. Don't leave anything outside that hurricane winds could blow into your windows or doors.
- Verify that you have insurance to cover flood damage. Homeowner's insurance typically does not cover flood damage. Note that premiums for flood damage insurance vary depending on your location, and hurricane storm surges can cause flooding in areas not typically prone to flooding.
Refer to the National Hurricane Center's web page for hurricane preparedness for additional details and information.
Hurricane Preparedness For Your Georgia Roof And Home
There are some key construction features your Georgia home should have to help it withstand a hurricane. Most of these features require a few weeks lead time to accomplish. Although some can be built in a few days, it's best to prepare your home for a hurricane well before the storm is approaching.
Hurricane Straps/Hurricane Clips
Roof trusses and rafters are usually nailed directly to the top plates of structural walls in standard homes. However, this type of attachment is not adequate for keeping your roof in place during a hurricane. Instead, metal hurricane straps or clips should be used to join the trusses/rafters to your home's wall framing and ensure your roof can hold on under heavy winds.
Roof Deck Reinforcement
Depending on where and when your roof was built, the nails that fasten your roof deck to your trusses/rafters may not be strong enough to secure it during a hurricane. If a roof inspection determines that nail lengths and spacing are not sufficient, the roof deck can be secured by using wood adhesive to bond it to the trusses/rafters.
High-Speed Wind Resistant Roof Shingles
If you live in an area where hurricanes are a probable, high-speed wind resistant shingles may be required for new roofs. There are several roof shingle products on the market that are warranted for speeds up to 130-mph. These shingles are desirable because they will remain in place under high winds and protect your home from water damage during a hurricane. In addition, they won't tear off and become flight/impact risks.
Impact-Resistant Windows
Building codes that require storm shutters allow impact-resistant windows as an alternative, in most cases. Impact-resistant windows protect your home as effectively as storm shutters do, while offering this protection full-time, 24 hours a day. And unlike shutters or other protective window covers, impact-resistant windows don't require any special hardware, preparation or installation time during the critical hours before a hurricane makes landfall.
Entry Doors, Garage Doors and Gable End Walls
Entry doors, garage doors and end walls built under gabled roofs are three other features of your home that should be reinforced in preparation for a hurricane. The reinforcements for these items are too complex to be discussed here, but you can learn more about these components at the National Hurricane Center's website.
Hurricane Preparedness Review For Georgia Homes
The construction features listed above are vital to prepare your home to endure a hurricane. Your home may already have some or all of the described features, depending on its age and location.
You may consult your local building code official to try and determine if your home includes the features necessary to support hurricane loads, based on past construction and renovation records and codes. You may also need to perform your own review of your home's construction records.
Another option is to inspect your home or hire a professional home inspector to determine if your home requires additional work to make it ready for the next hurricane.
Durable Roofs Built By A Professional Georgia Roofing Company
For over 15 years Findlay Roofing has been building durable and reliable roofs in Marietta. We understand the damage that hurricanes can cause, even miles away from the coastline.
If you have additional questions about hurricane preparedness for your roof and home, we are ready to help and encourage you to contact us today.
We will also perform a free roof analysis at your request, to help you make sure your roof is ready for all the wind and water that comes with a hurricane. Remember, you can never be too prepared for a hurricane!
