Protect Your Home Against Weather Disasters

The recent destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina and the Southern California wildfires serve as a reminder of the type of havoc Mother Nature can cause. Water, wind, fire and earth movement can be hazardous to your home, perhaps your most cherished and largest investment. But, there are actions you can take now to protect your property and prevent major damage should one of these elements strike.

Water
Apart from major flooding, most damage occurs when water seeps in through cracks and leaks. Make sure that windows and doors are well sealed. Seal any cracks and holes in the foundation and exterior walls. Repair or replace roof shingles around any area that allows water to penetrate the roof sheathing. Check for holes or air leaks in the attic and basement. Your basement windows and doors should have built-up barriers or flood shields. Inspect your sump pump regularly to make sure that it is working properly. Install or make sure that the flashing, a thin metal strip, around the doors, windows, thresholds, chimney and roof are intact.

Wind
Minimize damage by keeping wind from getting inside your home. Windows and glass doors should be fitted with impact-resistant laminated glass or covered with impact-resistant shutters. Consider solid wood or hollow metal doors, which are more likely to resist wind pressure and flying debris. There are also roofing products with high-wind resistance available.

Fire
Inexpensive home improvements that you can make include installing a spark arrestor on your chimney, eliminating brush and debris from around your property, and modifying your attic, sub-floor and basement vents. More expensive improvements include replacing single-pane glass windows, doors or skylights with tempered glass, recovering your exterior walls with a more fire-resistant material, and re-roofing your home with a Class A roof covering.

Earthquake
Steps you can take to protect your property and possessions include anchoring appliances, water heater, dressers and other heavy items to the wall. Attach your TV, computer and other small appliances to desks, tables or countertops. Apply safety film to windows and glass doors. It is also a good idea to install a main gas shut-off device.

Homeowners insurance can help protect you financially in case something happens to your property or its contents. Most standard homeowners insurance policies include structural coverage and personal property coverage. Depending on your location, you may also need additional coverage against earthquake, hurricane, flood and fire.

Periodically review your homeowner's insurance policy to make sure that you are adequately covered to rebuild your home and replace your contents. If there is ever damage to your personal property, having a home inventory can make it easier when filing an insurance claim. List every item in your home on a separate sheet labeled by room, including the attic, basement or other storage places. For each item, write the original cost, purchase date, replacement cost, model number, brand name, where purchased and a general description. In addition, take photos or video of each room for visual documentation and include close-up photos of valuable collections. Make sure you update your home inventory photos and list at least once a year.