7 Tips to Prepare Your Home for a Storm

While summer typically means warmer weather, it can also bring a variety of harsh weather conditions, sometimes leading to severe storms.

Homeowners can take preventative measures to help reduce damage if and when a severe storm hits. Ken Enscoe, senior director of Catastrophe Operations at Nationwide, shared some tips on how to help prepare your home:

1. Clear limbs and trim trees: During a storm, dead tree limbs can get loose and cause damage to a home’s exterior or even puncture a window. Heavy rain can also cause trees with shallow root systems to pull out of the ground.
2. Secure fences: Ensure that your fences are properly secured so to help prevent them from being lifted up and thrown against the house by heavy winds.
3. Secure furniture: Heavy winds can cause items like patio furniture and large toys to damage the exterior of your home. It’s a good idea to anchor outdoor furniture or bring it indoors before a storm hits. You should also move anything in your yard that can become flying debris inside your house or garage.
4. Check gutters: Help prevent damage inside your house by having downspouts drain away from your home and clear your gutters of any debris.

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