How to Prepare Your Home for a Storm

Storms can hit hard, and it’s not always easy to predict when they might happen. Especially with the changing seasons, you never know when severe weather could be just around the corner.

Test Your Severe Weather Knowledge

Being prepared is key to help keep your home and family safe for a variety of severe weather conditions. Have you taken steps to prepare your home for a storm? Does your family know what actions to take in the event of severe weather? There are simple measures you can take while conditions are good. Here’s how you can protect your home and family.

5 Ways to Prepare for Storm Season

Create a Storm Safety Plan

Preparation can keep the most important people in your world safe when bad weather hits. A written disaster plan outlines what to do in case of an emergency. Your plan should identify safe meeting areas for each type of emergency. Be sure each family member has reviewed the plan and understands it.

Build an Emergency Kit

It’s difficult to know how much time you’ll have to grab supplies when bad weather rolls in. Prepare emergency kits ahead of time and have them on hand in your home and vehicles. While your kits may have items for family members’ unique needs, consider including these basic supplies:

Food and Water

• At least one gallon per person for each day
• 3-day supply of non-perishable food

First Aid

• A complete kit with bandages of a variety of sizes, gauze, tweezers, scissors, cleansing wipes, medical tape, antiseptic cream, rash cream, etc.
• Prescription medications
• Pain relievers
• Antihistamines

Personal Care

• Personal hygiene items
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Towels, blankets, pillows, etc.

Miscellaneous

• Multi-purpose tool/pocketknife
• Basic tool set
• Flashlight and batteries
• Fire extinguisher
• Cash
• Change of clothing
• List of emergency phone numbers/contacts
• Generator and fuel

Prepare Around Your Home

• Take a walk around your house and identify trees and branches that need to be trimmed. Trim those branches back and away from your house.
• Be sure any objects in your yard or near your house are secured.
• Consider having large boards in storage in case you need to cover windows.
• Regularly clean out your home’s gutters to prevent them from getting plugged with leaves and debris.
• Secure windows and doors. Having lockable windows can help keep them secured and shut during a storm.

Sign Up for Weather Notifications

Keep yourself in the know and weather aware by registering for community and state notifications. You can also follow local news outlets on social media.

Check Your Sump Pump

Your sump pump is tasked with an important job — keeping water out of your home when heavy rain occurs. Regularly check your sump pump and test it by pouring water in the sump pump pit. Assess it to be sure it’s working properly. These steps can help prevent sump pump failure and the headaches it can cause.

When Storms Hit Hard, We Work Harder

An important step to being severe weather ready is being backed by an insurance company you can count on. We’re proud of the level of service all of our teams provide. For over 80 years, we’ve delivered on our promise to protect livelihoods and futures. Connect with a Farm Bureau agent to ensure you have the coverage and team you can depend on.