Preparing Ahead of the Storm | SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties

5/6/2024 (Permalink)

When the storm passes, call SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties for all your storm damage restoration needs.

Mother Nature is something we have to develop a little respect for. Sometimes we will hate what she brings us, and other times we will be singing her praises. Regardless of how we feel about her, we always need to be prepared for the weather she shares everyday. 

Each season brings us a variety of things to both prepare for and be thankful for. Spring and summer bring plenty of rain and occasional severe weather, but it also comes with moderate heat and plenty of reasons to get outside. In the fall and winter, we still see rain and occasional freezes, but most of the days are still just warm enough to get outside every once and a while. 

Regardless of what the weather does bring, the more we are prepared, the safer we can stay. Taking action to get our homes ready and ourselves ready ahead of any storm will mean we ride out every storm well. 

Preparing Your Home

The first step to being ready for any storm is taking care of your home. You can prepare your house throughout the year in order to mitigate as much damage as possible when the weather does get severe. 

Start outside with a little yard prep. Make sure your gutters and downspouts are clear, and that water can run away from your home. Add sloping or organic material to your yard in order to increase absorption and drainage. 

Trim your trees regularly to prevent falling limbs, and secure any furniture that lives outside permanently. Our area can frequently see flooding or tornadoes, so stay prepared for water and wind to mitigate damage. 

Keep up with roof repairs and make sure your attic is well-sealed. Replace loose shingles, and ensure your gutter system isn’t loose anywhere. Walk the outside of your house at least twice a year to look for any wear and tear that you can fix before it turns into a bigger problem. 

Inside your home, dedicate a safe space on the lowest level of your home to ride out severe thunderstorms or tornadoes. Keep emergency supplies nearby as well. Store important paperwork in a location that might not be drenched if the Mississippi rises or your roof springs a leak. 

Preparing Yourself

Along with keeping your home prepared to weather storms well, you should also take some regular steps to prepare yourself. 

Always have two ways to receive weather alerts. This should include something that does not require electricity in case a storm blows through that knocks out the power. 

Create a plan with your family so that everyone knows where to go when things get severe. This should especially include how to stay safe during a tornado and a flood. Make sure everyone knows what your evacuation plan is as well, in case orders are issued. 

The more you can do throughout the year to keep yourself and your home safe from storms, the less your damage will be. Being prepared also means you can rest a little easier and enjoy the nice weather each season brings. 

Do you have storm damage on your property? Contact us to get things repaired quickly.