How to Prepare Your Mobile Home for a Hurricane
If you live in an area prone to severe weather, you may be wondering how to prepare your mobile home for a hurricane.
Fortunately, modern mobile homes are built to strict standards. These standards enable them to withstand hurricane conditions like that of a traditional stick-built home. So, there is no need to fear, just be prepared!
We all know it’s better to have a plan ahead of time. There is no worse feeling than panicking at the last minute when a storm is headed your way. So let’s go ahead and go over ways you can be proactive in preparing your mobile home for a hurricane!
Initial Hurricane Preparation for Your Mobile Home
The first step to preparing your mobile home for a hurricane? You may want to review your insurance information. It’s critical to know the exclusions, hurricane deductibles, flood insurance, personal property, and additional living expenses that apply to your policy.
It is crucial to have a plan and an emergency kit prepared if a hurricane is headed your way. Your and your loved ones’ lives can be saved by preparation!
An ideal hurricane preparedness kit should be stored in a convenient location and includes:
- Food
- Water
- Portable radios
- Flashlights
- Important documents
- Medications
- Pet supplies
- Blankets
- Spare batteries
Interior Preparation of Your Mobile Home
Focus on the following tasks to prepare the interior of your mobile home and its belongings for hurricanes:
- If you plan to evacuate, go ahead and take photos of your belongings ahead of time. Your insurance will require these photos for the processing of a post-storm claim.
- Any fragile household items should be placed in boxes or containers on the floor to prevent them from projecting or getting damaged.
- To avoid flooding brought on by a plumbing break, your water main should be turned off.
- To reinforce windows and to prevent flying glass shards during the storm, apply tape over them and any other glass surface.
- To prevent fuel lines from being severed or broken and causing a fire, turn off fuel lines, such as those from a propane tank.
Exterior Preparation of Your Mobile Home
These exterior tasks are crucial concerning your mobile home hurricane preparedness:
- When it comes to covering your mobile home’s windows, you have options. You can choose to use plywood, shutters, or fabric storm panels.
- Secure or remove any items that are outside your mobile home that a strong wind could pick up. Anything that is left exposed to hurricane-force winds has a good chance of becoming a projectile, shattering windows, and causing damage along the way before it finds a place to land.
- It is a wise decision to have your home inspected before hurricane season. Choose a qualified technician who can look for loose tie-downs and ensure that straps, anchors, and stabilizer components are installed correctly. Having the roof’s condition inspected is also crucial.
Preparation is Key!
If you put in the proper planning and preparation, living in a mobile home does not have to be a total loss when an intense storm hits. However, you can alleviate the potential damage by taking the necessary precautions and reinforcing your home.
But keep in mind that securing your mobile home does not serve as a substitute for evacuation. If you can, evacuate if there is a hurricane or tornado warning. It makes sense to want to try to defend your lovely mobile home. But of course, your own and your family’s safety comes first!
Speak with a member at Braustin Homes today!
