- Clean gutter. Remove leaves and other debris from your gutters, which can clog them and send water pouring down the side of your house or under the roof.
- Secure your yard. Secure lawn furniture and other outdoor items before a storm arrives, so strong winds don’t turn them into projectiles.
- Prepare an emergency kit. Put together an emergency kit that can help if you lose electricity during a storm. It should consist of flashlights, some extra cash in case ATMs are down, a first-aid kit, seven-day supply of medications and keep a phone charger in your car.
- Prepare a “go kit.” Put together a box or file that you can grab quickly if evacuated, including your insurance policies, contact information for your insurance company, emergency contacts, your home inventory, extra keys and other important financial and personal records.
- Update your home inventory. If your house is damaged or worse, you may have trouble remembering everything you owned and may not be able to put your hands on receipts for valuable items. Take the time now to create an up-to-date home inventory, or update one you already have.