Home prep is pivotal when storms threaten

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting another busy Atlantic hurricane season, which gets underway Thursday. Don't wait until a storm is on the way to get your home ready.

NOAA is forecasting 14-21 named storms, of which up to 10 could become hurricanes. Of those hurricanes, three to six could be Category 3 or higher, with winds between 111-129 mph.

With a little forethought and manpower, you can mitigate the damage and stress a storm can bring to your home and your family.

1. Insurance

If you've lived through one tropical storm or hurricane on the Gulf Coast, you've likely familiarized yourself with what your homeowner's insurance policy covers, plus additional flood and windstorm coverage. Newcomers, though, need to do their homework.

Confirming your insurance coverage is the first thing you should deal with, since any policy has to be in effect for 30 days before a storm hits to benefit you.

First, evaluate what your homeowners policy covers. Ask specifically about the amount of coverage you have for wind and flood damage.

Check your deductible, which is likely 1 to 3 percent. For a single-family home worth $300,000, your deductible would be $3,000 to $9,000. Find out if your policy has a separate deductible for roof coverage.

Ask whether your policy covers the replacement value or actual cash value of anything lost or damaged. This is not a fine line: replacement cost buys you a new product while actual cash value reimburses you for an item's depreciated value. Ask your agent if your policy has "sub limits," which place limits on what you will be reimbursed, regardless of the amount of damage.

Renters should consider getting a renters policy, since your landlord has no coverage for your personal belongings.

Get an inventory of what's in your home. An easy option is to record a video on your phone; walk through each room, narrating as you go.

2. Flood and windstorm insurance

You may need additional flood insurance and/or windstorm protection. Your options are private insurance, the National Flood Insurance Program (administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency) or, for Gulf Coast residents in 14 counties and part of Harris County, the state-run Texas Windstorm Insurance Association.

The only Harris County residents who qualify for TWIA are those who live east of Texas 146. The average cost is $1,600 for residential structures and deductibles can range from $500 to 5 percent.

Flood and windstorm are not the same thing, though both can be purchased from your private insurance provider. If you're denied that coverage from private insurance companies, your insurance agent can apply for coverage for you through NFIP and/or TWIA.

Anna Stafford, legislative and external affairs liaison for TWIA, said homeowners who haven't evaluated the amount of storm coverage they need should revisit it.

"Insurance is not the most exciting topic, but when you have a loss from a storm, it's essential to help you recover," Stafford said. "We're really trying to get the inflation message out there. If you're going into hurricane season thinking, 'I'm fine with what I had last year,' it's so difficult (to compare because of) inflation. Check in with your insurance agent to see if you need to make any changes."

Unlike other policies that must be secured 30 days in advance of a storm to be in effect, TWIA coverage begins as soon as you have a policy. That said, TWIA stops issuing policies at a certain point after a storm is identified, so if forecasters are talking about a storm that's already in the Gulf of Mexico, it's likely too late.

3. Your home

The best thing you can do to protect your home or mitigate damage is to keep up with basic maintenance.

A strong roof will keep water from leaking in during a storm, so if your roof is older, consider getting it inspected. At least give it a good look to check for missing or lifted shingles, urges Joe Bany, director of field operations at John Moore Services.

Bany said gutters and eavestroughs need to be cleaned out, too. They fill with leaves and other debris and won't drain properly during a heavy rain. That can potentially cause rainwater to seep behind fascia or the exterior of your home.

Making sure your windows are adequately caulked is inexpensive and serves more than one purpose. It helps conserve energy year-round and keeps rain from seeping in during a storm.

4. Trim trees

Keeping your trees trimmed not only helps the health of the tree, but it can keep heavy limbs from falling on your home -- or your neighbor's home.

Pruning some internal branches creates openings that help heavy winds pass through the tree rather than push against it. Operating a chain saw while on a ladder isn't something most homeowners want to do, so hire an arborist or professional tree trimming company to do it right.

5. Stock up on supplies

Stock up on batteries for flashlights or for a battery-operated radio, which could be your only source of information if a storm knocks out power. To keep phones working, have fully charged battery packs that can recharge phones or keep other electronic devices working.

Using surge protectors will protect expensive electronics from the damage they can get from sudden power outages.

6. A generator

There are basically two types of generators you can get: a whole-home generator that is a backup power source for your entire home or a gas-operated one you can use to have some electricity in time of need.

A whole-home generator is going to cost several thousand dollars, is easier to use and will make you very popular in your neighborhood if the power goes out. Gas-operated units aren't hard to use but do come with some cautions.

A whole-home generator requires installation and, potentially, city permits to make sure it's installed properly. For the gas-operated variety, get one now while you can still find and afford them.

For a gas-operated generator, test it now . Run it until it's out of gas, then store it safely. Remember that when it is on, keep it at least 15 to 20 feet from your home because its exhaust contains harmful carbon monoxide fumes.

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