GAF sponsored this event. Did you ever imagine Houston would be submerged in floodwaters for several feet? More than 6 million Floridians were ordered to evacuate due to a storm that could prove so destructive that almost anything that wasn’t secured might become what the locals call “locals calling”. “dangerous flying projectiles?”
However, both of those events just happened. First Hurricane Harvey and then Hurricane Irma carved a path of destruction and death that was mind-boggling.
“Such a vicious one-two punch hasn’t hit the U.S. in over a century,”National Geographic reports.
Homeowners can’t help but wonder how to prevent future hurricane season from happening. For some suggestions, read on.
* Clean your gutters. Angie’s List warns that even in perfect weather you can still have a problem. “nightmare”Your roof may leak if it’s clogged with leaves, sticks and other debris. If you factor in a strong hurricane, however, the very component of your roofing system that controls water flow -; protecting your roof and walls, foundation and landscape from flooding, – can become as useless as a virus-infected laptop.
“If you let gutter cleaning go by the wayside, it could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars,”Warnings are provided by the website
* Trim weak tree branches. A Texas tragedy that took place was the death of a 60-year old woman when a tree crashed into her house while she was sleeping.
That’s the extreme of what is possible.
Commoner is the question of how to rebuild after a house has been ravaged by a falling branch. The New York Times reports that “Tragedy’s hand may be unpredictable, but the road to recovery is forged in the language of your homeowner insurance policy, words that will determine how — and if — you will be made whole again.”
* Make sure your roof is in good condition. Now is the perfect time to have a professional roofer inspect your roof and repair any damage such as missing or broken shingles. You should also review your warranty and home insurance policies to understand what coverage you have and what restrictions they may have. Manufacturer warranties don’t usually cover roof damage from natural disasters like hurricanes.
“If you are going to replace your roof, consider shingles that have passed the UL2218, Class 4 impact test, the toughest in the industry,”Jason Joplin is the program manager at CARE (the GAF Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence).
Joplin loves the especially Timberline ArmorShield IIGAF (Line of Shingles)gaf.comNorth America’s largest roofing manufacturer ( They look great and are made from SBS modified asphalt. He describes them as “a beautiful product.” “a rubber-like material for enhanced flexibility and durability during extreme weather conditions.”
Additional bonus: Depending on your location, shingles that have passed UL2218 or Class 4 impact testing may be eligible for substantial discounts on homeowners insurance.
* Reinforce windows. Flying shards are four words that sum it all.
They’re not what you want. That’s why the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) describes windows as “particularly vulnerable”- Recommends that you spring for impact-resistant glazing, or permanent storm shutters. FEMA offers a grief-saving tip: Tape does not stop windows from breaking.
