According to IBHS, the key is removing everything fire would view as a fuel source. This will help create a zone around the home to help slow flames, should a fire start, and potentially direct it elsewhere.   Take these steps within 30 feet of most houses, 50-100 feet if it’s a heavily wooded area:

1. Eliminate fuel sources like dry landscaping, woodpiles and decks.
2. Prune trees and shrubs.
3. Trim taller trees so lowest branch is no less than six feet from the ground.
4. Remove dead leaves and branches from the yard.
5. Clear branches from around the roof and chimney.
6. Mow lawn regularly and dispose promptly of cuttings and debris.
7. Clear roof, gutters and eaves of debris.
8. Maintain your irrigation system.
9. Move firewood and storage tanks 50 feet away from the home.
10. Store flammable liquids properly.

Homeowners about to begin a landscaping project can increase their protection by introducing more native vegetation and spacing trees at least 10 feet apart.

And if a facelift is being planned for a home’s exterior, use only non-combustible materials on the roof, walls, eaves, soffits and fascia.

Thanks to www.disastersafety.com and IBHS.org for this article

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Protect yourself. Always be careful when entering a damaged building. If there is serious structural damage, contact local officials before entering. Report downed power lines or gas leaks. Keep electricity turned off if the building has been flooded.

Protect your property. Take reasonable steps to protect your property from further damage. This could mean boarding up windows and salvaging undamaged items. Your insurance company can tell you what they will pay for regarding protection.

Report the loss as soon as possible. Contact your insurance agent or an insurance public adjuster near me as soon as you can. Provide a general description of the damage and have your policy number handy if possible. Write down the adjuster’s name, phone number and work schedule as soon as you have them.

Prepare a list. Keep damaged items or portions of them until the claim adjuster has visited, and consider photographing or videotaping the damage to document your claim. Prepare a list of damaged or lost items for your adjuster.

Keep receipts. If you need to relocate, keep records and receipts for all additional expenses. Most insurance policies cover emergency living arrangements.

Return claim forms. After your insurance company has been notified of your claim, it must send you the necessary claim forms within a certain number of days (time period varies by state). Fill out and return the forms as soon as possible. If you do not understand the process, be sure to ask questions and write down the explanation.

Cleanup. When starting the cleanup process, be careful, and use protective eyewear and gloves if available. Adjusters may tell business owners to hire a professional cleaning service.

Build stronger next time. When you’re ready to start repairs or rebuild, work with your contractor to make the new structure disaster-resistant.

This information was taken from the IBHS publications “You Can Go Home Again” and “Getting Back to Business.” For more recovery and rebuilding information, visit the IBHS website www.disastersafety.org.

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Water damage from wind-driven rain can be a costly problem, even when windows, doors, and roofs remain intact.

Research conducted by the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) during recent hurricane seasons found water can be forced into buildings through small holes, unsealed openings and gaps around windows and doors. If not discovered and dried-out quickly, the extent of the damage can increase.

“Keeping water out is the new frontier in hurricane protection,” said Tim Reinhold, IBHS vice president of engineering. “Wind-driven rain is forced under doors and through window seams, leading to soaked floors, baseboards, and sometimes drywall and furnishings. It’s a particular problem for hi-rise and beachfront condos with patio doors.”

Seal All Holes and Openings

* Close and lock all windows, doors, skylights and vents to prevent water intrusion.
* Use polyurethane sealant to close up holes where wires, cables and pipes enter and exit the house, and around electrical boxes and circuit breaker panels. Pipe penetrations include AC refrigerant and condensate lines, water heater pressure relief lines and water pipes.
* Also seal cracks around wall outlets, dryer vents, bathroom and kitchen vents and electrical devices such as wall lights. Make this a part of routine maintenance to protect your home from the elements all year long.

If you’re in a flood prone area or near roads that are expected to flood, seal off the base of doors with sand bags or plastic sheeting and tape.

Protect Patio Doors
If your patio doors have a high exposure to the elements, deploy your shutter system if you have one. Hurricane screens have been particularly effective in slowing wind-driven rain to a fine mist, reducing the chance it will pool in the door tracks.

If you don’t currently have a way to protect your patio doors, have supplies on hand to dry up any water instruction immediately after the storm passes.

For more information, visit the IBHS web site www.disastersafety.org and review the hurricane publications “S Marks the Spot” and “Keep Wind and Water Out.”

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