Tropical storms and hurricanes have one advantage over most natural disasters: at least some advance notice for hurricane home preparation. Hurricane watches are now issued by the National Hurricane Center at least 48 hours prior to a potential storm. Hurricane warnings are issued 36 hours before predicted landfall. While this advance notice leaves time for last minute preparations, the best hurricane home preparation actually begins long before hurricane season.
Here are some ways to be ready before the official warnings are issued:
- Check local codes. Building codes in locales vulnerable to hurricanes often include construction provisions for high wind and storms. Your home may well have been built before these code updates, so check the codes to make sure you're currently compliant.
- Get professional help. While some home hurricane preparation measures are DIY-friendly, you may need the services of a professional architect, mitigation company, and building contractor to get the more complex jobs done
Devote particular attention to these structural components:
- Windows " Install impact resistant windows or cover with storm shutters.
- Solid doors " All doors should be hung with triple hinges and secured with dead bolts.
- Sliding glass doors " Consider upgrading to storm-resistant laminate glass or plastic windows. If not, when the storm threatens, cover the door with wooden shutters or plywood.
- Garage doors " The large surface area of garage doors makes them vulnerable to high wind. Have the tracks and structure inspected for storm resistance.
- Roof " A professional roofing contractor can advise you on replacing existing roof coverings with more storm-resistant materials, reinforcing sheathing, sealing joints and securing the connection points of rafters and trusses.
- Structural soundness " An architect or building contractor can evaluate the integrity of the connecting joints between walls and the roof as well as with the foundation.
For more hurricane home preparation advice, contact the water damage repair specialists at Rytech Restoration.

Rytech Restoration's Emergency Service Locations
Find your local Rytech Restoration below by clicking and expanding the state where your property is located. Live specialists are standing by, ready to answer your questions and dispatch a certified technician to your door.



