Prepare your Ulster County Home For Storms BEFORE They Happen!

6/26/2020 (Permalink)

Preparations ahead of time can truly help in case of a damaging storm!

Thunderstorms are a common part of life in Kingston, but they can also be dangerous or even deadly. Just because they happen frequently does not mean they should not be taken seriously every time.

Severe thunderstorms can produce high winds, heavy rains, hail and lightning if conditions are right, all of which can be harmful to you and your home.

Thankfully, through practicing storm safety, you can circumvent many of the issues that could arise due to storms.

Storm Safety for Every Element of Your Home

-Storm safety for the outside of your home:

Storms can lead to serious household damage
that can be a headache to deal with. To prevent this damage from occurring, you can take
several steps:

-Inspect your roof regularly for missing or loose shingles.

-Clean out your gutters at least twice per year.

-Bring in or secure patio furniture, potted plants, sports equipment, garbage cans and any other objects that could become projectiles in high winds.

-Consider installing a lightning protection system for your home.

-Trim trees near your home regularly to reduce the chances of dead limbs falling on your
home.

Storm safety inside your home:

If severe weather is on the way, the best thing you can do is stay put and stay safe at home—and having a plan in place can help you make that happen:

-Keep a weather radio, flashlights, batteries and cell phone car chargers handy as part of your emergency preparedness kit.

-Designate a safe area of your home for your family to shelter from the storm—it should
be an interior room without any windows. Don't forget your pets!

-Use surge protectors on every outlet in case of lightning strikes.

Storm safety when you are away from home.

If you will be going out of town, your home still needs to be protected from a storm that might come through while you are away.

-Unplug all appliances and electronics in case of lightning strikes.

-Secure all outdoor furniture and possible projectile objects before you go away just in
case. (see list above)

-Be sure a trusted neighbor knows you are going out of town so they can contact you if
any issues arise.

If your home sustains any kind of storm damage, you can count on SERVPRO of Kingston/New Paltz to help 24/7/365.