How To Prep Your Property Prior To A Hurricane

The beautiful exterior of your home says so much about you, but without proper prepping, it may be left vulnerable to the drenching downpours, falling trees and nor'easter-level winds that typically accompany severe weather. How can you protect the carefully curated landscaping and lovingly-tended exterior of your home during hurricane season? Stave off damage and prep your property with these simple tips.

Look Up – Roofs, particularly those which have shielded your home for over 20 years, are especially vulnerable to the assault of a hurricane's high winds and pelting rain. If a storm is predicted, take some time to examine your roof from street level. Look for roof shingles that seem loose or have a buckling appearance and have them replaced. If necessary, fasten your roof to the house frame with a clipping or strap mechanism. You'll also want to assess gutters and downspouts for clogs and leaking, which could adversely affect roof water run-off and cause internal leaks and staining in your home.

Bring the Outside in – Assess your property for anything that might fly away, Wizard of Oz style. When in doubt, tie it down or bring it inside. Patio furniture, barbecues, trash cans and lawn decorations should be removed and carted indoors. Remember to protect your hands with heavy work gloves and shield yourself with insecticide if you will be transporting items or structures usually left inert, such as wood piles, dog houses, gardening tools or plastic playground equipment, as these could be hiding mosquito colonies underneath. Also make sure to secure garden sheds, pools, hot tubs and the other outdoor living spaces of your home.

Pay Attention to Doors and Windows – You don't want the rest of the outside to come in uninvited, especially during a storm. Double-check the durability of your windows, doors and garage opening to assess their ability to withstand severe weather conditions and wind load. Board up or replace windows and patio doors with impact-resistant, storm-shield glass or cut-to-fit marine plywood.

Trim a Tree – It may not be time for Christmas, but neatening your trees by trimming overgrown branches can help avoid catastrophic accidents or injuries to both people and property. Have your trees assessed annually by a local municipality or professional landscaper for overall health, and remove any dead or dying specimens.

Protect your Sprinkler System – Your sprinkler system was probably expensive to install. Protect it by turning the pump off so it doesn't turn on automatically, and wrap the pump securely to keep it functional and in working order after the storm has passed.

Don't DIY – Despite your best efforts, your home may become damaged during a storm. Your own personal safety is more important than anything else, and trying to fix damages on your own after a storm may not only be dangerous, but also may void insurance claims and warranty agreements. Compounding the situation might be the sudden surges caused when the electricity powers back on after an outage. Rather than risk injury, maintain internet access and the ability to communicate with your insurance company and the authorities by utilizing a backup generator to keep the power on. If you need help and can't connect by phone, affix a prominent sign somewhere on your property, alerting your insurance company and others of your whereabouts with contact information.

Corey Whelan is a freelance writer in New York. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

Learn more by visiting CBS Philly's Storm Prep section