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Severe summer weather can be unpredictable and disastrous, causing you thousands of dollars in damage if you’re not prepared. With these 7 summer severe weather safety tips to protect your home from The Basement Doctor Columbus, you can protect your home from the dangerous storms of the season.

7 Summer Severe Weather Safety Tips to Protect Your Home

Create an Emergency Kit

The first and most important of our 7 Summer Severe Weather Safety Tips to Protect Your Home, is having an emergency kit, which is a must-have for any family. In just a few moments, you could face a disaster. Ideally, you’ll never need to use the kit, but if you do, you’ll be grateful that you put one together. You never know when the electricity will go out or the tornado sirens will go off. The CDC recommends that you include the following items:

 

  •       A battery-powered flashlight
  •       A battery-powered radio
  •       Extra batteries
  •       Medical information for all family members
  •       Emergency contact information
  •       A first-aid kit
  •       Blankets
  •       Hygiene items for every family member
  •       A 3-5 day supply of non-perishable food and water.

Develop an Emergency Plan

Does your family know where to go during a fire? How about during a severe storm warning? Developing an emergency plan and practicing it removes guesswork from a dire situation. Unclear directions are how disasters become tragedies. If you have a shelter in your home, then be sure that everyone living in your house knows to go there during a bad storm. If there is nowhere to go in your home, then map out clear instructions for an evacuation route.

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Develop an Emergency Plan
Refine Your Drainage System

Refine Your Drainage System

If you get severe rain on your property, does the water drain toward or away from your house? A critical severe weather safety tip is to refine your drainage system. Water that gets in your home can cause serious damage that is difficult and expensive to repair. You could dig channels in your yard to guide any overflowing water away from the building. Also, be sure that your gutters aren’t clogged and drain at least six feet away from your house.

Waterproof Your Basement

Waterproofing is an extremely effective solution when dealing with inclement weather. By waterproofing your basement, you protect the inside of your foundation from the elements. Water and moisture will be kept at bay while deterring mold growth and preventing damaged belongings. You’ll also protect your belongings from unnecessary damage and keep mold growth at bay.

Waterproof Your Basement
Replace Your Sump Pump

Replace Your Sump Pump

Most insurance companies do not cover any flood damage caused by a faulty sump pump, which is why you need to maintain it. Most pumps are built to last around 10 years, so once you hit that threshold, it’s time to start shopping. There’s nothing scarier than your sump pump not working and water slowly rising in your basement.

Purchase a Battery Backup

Sump pumps are critical when it comes to keeping water out of your home, but they run on electricity. If that goes out, then you could be in bad shape. Thankfully, you can purchase a battery backup to go with your sump pump. Even when your lights are off, you can rest easy knowing that your sump pump is still working hard. Many pumps already come with a battery backup, so if you’re replacing yours, that gives you a good opportunity to purchase one with the extra protection. Learn more about our Blue Angel battery backup system here.

Battery Backup for Sump Pumps
Purchase a Generator

Purchase a Generator

Emergency preparedness is all about expecting the unexpected. Perhaps you find yourself in desperate need of energy. Maybe a storm cuts your electricity for more than one week at a time. Things happen, which is why we also recommend purchasing a generator for your home. While generators are loud and can only power so much at a time, it can make quite the difference when you have nothing else to turn to. Maybe you need to charge your phone to call for help or run the fridge for a bit so your food doesn’t spoil.