3 Tips To Help You Prepare Your Home for Storm Season

1/11/2022 (Permalink)

Standing water in a garage after a storm in Oliver Springs, TN.

Protect Your Home Against Water Damage

Storms can cause a lot of damage to your home in Oliver Springs, TN, and one of the main risks is flooding. Floodwater may not seem very threatening at first, but it can compromise the structural integrity of your home and ruin many of your possessions. You can take steps, however, to protect your home against water damage caused by flooding. Here are some tips to help minimize your risk.

1. Direct Water Away From Your Home

When it rains, having water on or near your home is inevitable. It doesn't have to stay there, though. There are several ways you can control the flow of heavy rainfall:

• Keep gutters and drains clear
  
• Aim drain spouts away from the foundation
  
• Update your landscape's grading to slope away from your home
  
  

While you can't keep floodwater from rising, you can keep it at bay a little longer with good water flow planning.

2. Install a Sump Pump in Your Basement

The basement is probably the first place in a flooded building to take on damage. As the lowest point, it is the most vulnerable. While water remediation experts can repair the damage in the basement, you can prevent some of it by having a working sump pump. This machine redirects standing water out of your basement. It is also a good idea to have a backup generator or a battery backup. That way, even if the power goes out your sump pump will work.

3. Purchase Flood Insurance

If your home is damaged by flooding from a storm, your basic property insurance is probably not going to cover it. You need a separate flood policy. If you live in an area prone to flooding, you are required to have such a policy. Your insurance broker can advise on the best plan to repair your home if water damage occurs.

When storms rage, flooding is always a possibility. With a little preparation, however, you are in a better position to respond when floodwater rises.