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Summertime means fun in the sun, but it also means you could be seeing a good number of severe storms.  It’s hurricane season on the east coast and tornados can strike any state in the union.  It’s important to protect your family from these forces of nature.  But it’s also important to protect your home from the damage that comes with it.  Here are some tips from the Institute For Business & Home Safety:

Glass Doors & Windows: Install impact-resistant windows, which have a better chance of surviving high winds and flying debris.  “These window systems are commonly available in hurricane-prone areas. If you are unable to find them locally, you can order them from manufacturers or home improvement stores in coastal areas.”
   “Sliding glass doors are more vulnerable to wind damage than most other doors. If you are replacing your patio doors or building a new home, consider installing impact-resistant door systems made of laminated glass, plastic glazing or a combination of plastic and glass.”

Strengthen Doors: Door frames need to be securely anchored to the wall framing.  Make certain your doors have at least three hinges and a dead bolt security lock with a bolt at least one inch long.  Garage doors are particularly vulnerable to high winds.  “Install permanent wood or metal stiffeners. Or contact the door manufacturer’s technical staff for recommendations about temporary center supports you can attach and remove easily when severe weather threatens.”
   Water can invade the home in a number of ways when it’s raining and the wind is really blowing.  The Insurance Information Institute has a couple things you should examine before the storms come.

Protect Gable End Vents: “These can also be an entry point for wind and water. Louvers that cover them are not designed to keep out rain driven by hurricane-force winds. Keep your attic, and insulation, dry by shuttering it as if it were a window.”

Seal Openings, Cracks and Holes: “Water can invade homes in a number of ways, especially when it is being blown horizontally. Use caulk to seal cracks and holes where phone and cable lines enter your home.”   
    “If you do everything on this list, it could cost $4,000 or more but your home will be much stronger and safer,” said Jeanne Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson at the I.I.I. “On the other hand, if you don’t make these improvements and you’re hit with major damage, you could end up paying a sizable deductible before the insurance payment kicks in. In comparison, the $4,000 will seem like a bargain.”

House Medic can help with any of these safety measures in your home.  Call House Medic at 1-800-530-4337 or log onto www.housedoctors.com to make a home safer for during storm season.