- ORIGINAL NEWS
How to make your home hurricane resistant, as scientists predict an ‘extremely active’ storm season
- SUMMARY
In the face of increasingly intense natural disasters, particularly hurricanes, it is crucial to protect your home, which is often one of your most valuable assets.
Upgrading your home to withstand hurricanes can be a significant expense, but it is a wise investment considering the potential costs of damage.
While the national average cost for hurricane-proofing your entire house ranges from $1,128 to $10,293, reinforcing specific areas can offer significant protection.
For instance, stronger connections between roofs and walls can save about $8.1 billion annually in windstorm damage.
Experts agree that this active hurricane season is expected to bring higher rainfall and stronger storms due to warmer sea surface temperatures, making it essential to prepare and strengthen your home accordingly.
To effectively safeguard your home from wind damage, consider the following upgrades: 1.
**Roof Reinforcements:** Strengthen the connection between your roof and walls using metal clips or straps, providing added stability.
2.
**Window and Door Protection:** Install hurricane-impact windows or shutters to prevent wind and water from entering and pressurizing your home, potentially leading to severe structural damage.
3.
**Garage Door Reinforcement:** Install anchors or an emergency brace system for non-wind-resistant garage doors, or replace them with wind-rated models.
4.
**Inspector Assessment:** Have your home inspected to identify areas that need reinforcement, and discuss possible discounts with your insurance agent based on the recommended upgrades.
While these upgrades can be costly, there may be available grants, tax credits, or other financial assistance programs to reduce the burden.
Additionally, energy-efficient upgrades, such as window replacements and roof-tightening, can enhance both durability and energy savings, making them a sustainable investment.
- NEWS SENTIMENT CHECK
- Overall sentiment:
positive
Positive
“Upgrading windows helped reduce annual physical damages from windstorms by $8.1 billion.”
“Experts strongly recommend upgrading homes to protect against increasingly frequent and severe hurricanes.”
Negative
“The cost of hurricane-proofing a home can range from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, which can be a significant financial burden.”
“Even with home upgrades, residents may still be vulnerable to unpredictable storm-related damage.”