While there are still many questions about the severity and location of Hurricane Florence’s impact, one thing is for certain—preparedness is essential to protecting your home and family. A little bit of effort before the storm arrives can drastically reduce the likelihood of your home being damaged by wind, rain and projectiles.

Examine Your Trees

Trees are significant threats to the safety of your home during a hurricane. High winds can knock off dead and dying branches and deposit them in your yard, on your roof or on top of your car. Trees with shallow roots can also topple over as a result of the combination of wind and rain. Before a hurricane arrives, you should take a walk around your yard with a professional to identify if any trees need to be removed to prevent damage in the event of a hurricane. It’s also the perfect time to trim trees and shrubs that could use pruning.

Test Your Drainage Systems

Examine your drains and sump pumps to make sure that everything is unclogged and functioning properly. Make sure that you have extra batteries ready to go for the backup system in the event of a power outage. A great deal of flooding during smaller hurricanes occurs due to sump pumps and interior and exterior drainage getting overwhelmed, so do your best beforehand to ensure everything is working correctly.

Clean Out Your Gutters and Drains

While fall leaves aren’t clogging gutters and drains yet, you should check your gutters and downspouts to confirm that they are pointing in the right direction and free of debris. If you don’t clear your gutters, rain will make them overflow and can cause immediate flooding in your basement, attic or yard.

Use Surge Protectors

Power surges can occur in an instant during severe storms and hurricanes, and these can ruin appliances and electronics. Depending on your budget, you can install a surge protector on your electrical panel and utilize additional power strips with surge protection to guard your belongings. Your HVAC unit might need additional surge protection. A small investment in surge protection can protect the thousands of dollars’ worth of electronics in your home.

Know Who to Call for Hurricane Clean-Up

Do you have downed trees in your yard? Has your landscape taken a beating? Give JFC Grounds Maintenance a call at (410) 655-2887. We can guide you through the clean-up process and restore your landscaping to how it was before the waters rose. Write down our number now, so that you will still have it handy if the power goes out or you lose access to your email! Stay safe.