Keep Your Home Safe During Heavy Rains and Extreme Weather

With the Fall season comes an increase for tropical storms as well as heavy rain events in the North East.
These heavy rains, storms, and floods can pose significant threats to your home whether you rent or
own. However, with proper preparation and proactive measure, you can minimize the risks and keep
your property safe and dry during these events.

 Fortify Your Roof and Seal Your Windows – A strong roof and well-sealed windows are crucial
for keeping water out during heavy rains and storms. Inspect your roof for loose or damaged
shingles and repair or replace where needed. Make sure the caulk around your windows is not
cracked or coming loose. Older window caulk will often dry out or shrink allowing wind driven
rain easy access into your home.
 Check That Your Sump Pump Is in Good Working Order – Test your sump pump to be sure that
it is working properly. Many water damage claims occur because a sump pump fails to operate
when needed. If your sump pump is 20 years old replace it – don’t take the chance of an older
sump pump failing when you need it most.
 Consider Adding a Battery-Operated Backup Sump Pump to Your Sump Pit – Power to your
home can easily be lost during major storm and rain events. If the power goes out your primary
sump pump will not work which is why you should consider having a battery-operated backup
sump pump installed in your sump pit.
 Have A Backup Power Source – Power outages are common during sever weather events. To
ensure that you have access to essential appliances and to keep your sump pump running invest
in a generator. Consider having an entire house generator installed. If this seems costly then
invest in a gas-powered generator that generates enough power to keep all your essential
appliances up and running. If you go for the gas-powered option, be sure to have long enough
extension cords on hand in order to reach all essential appliances during a power outage.
 Make Sure Gutters and Exterior Storm Drains Are Clear – Make sure your gutters and down
spouts are clear and free of debris. There are many gutter cleaning services that a homeowner
can hire to clean their gutters. Make sure that exterior storm drains are clear – ideally in ground
storm drains should not be located near areas such as mulch beds that can cause the drain to
clog should the water pool up during a heavy rain event. During heavy rain events a homeowner
should periodically or frequently check storm drains to be sure they are not blocked and are
draining correctly.
 Regular Maintenance – Perform regular maintenance on your property to address potential
vulnerabilities such as loose siding or cracks in foundations. Make sure the ground next to the
foundation of your home is graded away from the foundation - this will help to prevent water
from pooling up around the foundation during heavy rain events.

 Consider Purchasing Flood Insurance for Your Home – Your home does not need to be in a
High-Risk Flood Zone in order for you to purchase flood insurance. The last several heavy rain
events have caused flooding to many homes that were not in a high-risk flood zone. Flood
Insurance Premiums for homes that are not considered “high risk” is likely less expensive than
you think. Remember a Homeowners Policy does not provide coverage against damage caused
by a flood.

Thanks,
 
Robert A. Davis
President
Davis Agency
[email protected]
Phone 908-233-8040
Cell 908-397-4514
Fax 908-233-6414