Even though you may think that tornadoes only occur in "Tornado Alley," tornadoes can occur in any state at any time. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that there were a total of 41 tornadoes through the end of March 2015, with a preliminary count of 929 through July 22. Our best advice is to prepare now in case your area is struck by a tornado. The following hints will help you prepare for tornadoes and minimize your losses.
- Secure entry doors by making sure they have a two-inch deadbolt lock and three hinges. Also, make sure the screws are long enough to secure the door and frame to the wall framing. The frame is the most important part of the door, because if something hits the door and knocks it out of its frame, wind can blow debris into your home and cause more damage.
- Make sure you brace your garage doors, since it is the largest possible opening in your home. If you have a multi-car garage, you should install wood or metal stiffeners for added support. You can also buy bracing products and install them so that your door is more wind resistant. If you are in a time crunch and cannot go buy these bracing products, you should brace the doors vertically like you would board up a window during a hurricane.
- Install impact resistant windows or hurricane shutters. If neither of these are an option, you can prepare plywood covers for your windows. If you do this, you need to make sure the plywood covers the exterior frame and has long screws to attach it to the frame. You should NEVER open your windows during a tornado.
- Install wind-resistant roof structures. Rather than attaching your roof with roofing nails, you should attach your roof with hurricane clips.
- Keep important documents and valuables in a safe or a safety deposit box. You can bolt the safe to the floor of a room or keep it in another safe place in your home.
- Prepare your home shelter (if you have one) or prepare a tornado safety kit. This could include a battery-powered radio, flashlight, spare batteries, water, non-perishable food, cash, and any other things that you think you may need.
To obtain free insurance quotes or better insurance coverage please contact an independent insurance agency like us who can offer multiple carriers.
Suzanne Brown Insurance Agency
A Texas Independent Insurance Agency with over 40 insurance carriers
www.SuzanneBrownAgency.com
281-558-2210