New Orleans construction company provides tips on how to fortify homes ahead of hurricanes
Meteorologist Derek Sibley shows how you can get your home ready before a hurricane hits
Updated: 7:25 PM CDT May 31, 2024
ON HOW TO FORTIFY YOUR HOME. WHETHER YOU’RE STAYING OR GOING, FORTIFYING YOUR HOME IS CRUCIAL TO PROTECT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY BEFORE A STORM STRIKES. HERE, WE SHOW YOU HOW TO BEST PROPERLY PROTECT YOUR HOME. APPRECIATE IT. FORTIFYING A ROOF IS KEY NOWADAYS, AS MANY HOMES ACROSS OUR AREA ARE GETTING NEW ROOFS. THERE IS EVEN GOVERNMENT FUNDING OUT THERE TO HELP PAY FOR IT. SO PEOPLE CALL ME ALL THE TIME AND SAY, HEY, I JUST GOT A BRAND NEW ROOF AFTER IDA. SHOULD I GET A FORTIFIED ROOF? MY ANSWER IS YES. THE REASON BEING IS THE FORTIFIED ROOFING SYSTEM IS A SCIENTIFIC METHOD OF INSTALLING A ROOF. WE STOPPED BY THIS GENTILLY HOME, GETTING A NEW ROOF INSTALLED. WE REINFORCE THE PLYWOOD WITH RING SHANK NAILS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PLYWOOD DON’T BLOW AWAY. SO YOU HAVE LEVELS OF PROTECTION WITH THE FORTIFIED ROOF. EARL MACKEY IS A LONGTIME ROOFER AND CONTRACTOR. WE TALKED TO HIM ABOUT BEST PROTECTING YOUR HOME FROM A HURRICANE. SO THE WINDS ARE A BIG PROBLEM WHEN IT COMES TO TREES. THEY TOPPLE OVER. THEY CAN HIT THE HOMES. WHAT DO YOU BEST RECOMMEND TO PREP HOMES FROM TREES THAT ARE NEARBY? WELL, SEE THIS TREE HERE, DEREK? YOU SEE THE LIMBS RIGHT NOW. IT’S NOT TOUCHING THE ROOF, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE STRONG HIGH IMPACT WINDS, THE TREE BECOME LIKE A BUNGEE CORD, RIGHT? AND IT’S GOING TO RUB AGAINST THE ROOF AND IT’S GOING TO BRUSH AWAY THE SHINGLES. IT’S GOING TO BRUSH AWAY THE UNDERLAYMENT. YOU’RE GOING TO BE BARE WOOD. SO IT’S BEST TO MAKE SURE YOU TRIM THE BRANCHES AWAY FROM THE HOME AT LEAST 2 TO 3FT AWAY TO MAKE SURE THOSE LONG BRANCHES DON’T EXTEND TO THE ROOF AND CAUSE YOU DAMAGE DURING A WINDSTORM, MACKEY SAYS ALL GUTTERS SHOULD BE CLEARED BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON STARTS, SO, EARL, WE CAN’T FORGET ABOUT THE DOORS, RIGHT? HOW CAN PEOPLE BEST PROTECT THEIR DOORS FROM A STORM? SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE HIGH IMPACT RATED DOORS AND ALSO HIGH IMPACT RATED WINDOWS DURING A STORM. AND ALSO, IF YOU EVACUATE LATE, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A STRONG LOCK IN CASE YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO, YOU KNOW, BECOME INTRUDERS WHILE YOU’RE AWAY. SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR YOUR DOORS AND YOUR WINDOWS ARE SAFE AND PROTECT
New Orleans construction company provides tips on how to fortify homes ahead of hurricanes
Meteorologist Derek Sibley shows how you can get your home ready before a hurricane hits
Updated: 7:25 PM CDT May 31, 2024
Whether you’re staying or going before a storm, protecting your home is crucial before a storm strikes.There are many homes across southeast Louisiana that are getting new roofs installed. This can be expensive, but there is government funding to help pay for it.Earl Mackie is the owner of Mackie One Construction company in New Orleans. Mackie suggests getting ready now and gives tips on how to best secure your roof and gutters.Here are some things residents can do to secure their homes and belongings: Replace gravel or rock landscaping materials with fire-resistant materials that are lighter and less harmful.Cut weak branches and trees that could fall on your house and keep shrubbery trimmed.Install storm shutters to protect your windows from breakage. Alternately, fit plywood panels to your windows, which can be nailed to window frames when a storm approaches. Read about the importance of storm shutters here. Make sure exterior doors are hurricane-proof and have at least three hinges and a deadbolt lock that is at least one inch long.Sliding glass doors should be made of tempered glass and, during a storm, covered with shutters or plywood. These types of doors are more vulnerable to wind damage than most other doors.Replace old garage doors and tracks with a door that is approved for both wind pressure and impact protection. Wind coming into your home through an opening that large poses grave problems for the rest of your home — especially your roof.Seal outside wall openings such as vents, outdoor electrical outlets, garden hose bibs and locations where cables or pipes go through the wall. Use a high-quality urethane-based caulk to prevent water penetration.If you live in a mobile home, make sure you know how to secure it against high winds and be sure to review your mobile home insurance policy. Find out more here. Reminder: mobile homes are not safe in high winds, and you will need to move to a safer place before a storm hits. Always follow the advice of your local community officials.If you have a boat on a trailer, know how to anchor the trailer to the ground or house — and review your boat insurance policy. Find out more here.
Whether you’re staying or going before a storm, protecting your home is crucial before a storm strikes.
There are many homes across southeast Louisiana that are getting new roofs installed.
This can be expensive, but there is government funding to help pay for it.
Earl Mackie is the owner of Mackie One Construction company in New Orleans.
Mackie suggests getting ready now and gives tips on how to best secure your roof and gutters.
Here are some things residents can do to secure their homes and belongings:
- Replace gravel or rock landscaping materials with fire-resistant materials that are lighter and less harmful.
- Cut weak branches and trees that could fall on your house and keep shrubbery trimmed.
- Install storm shutters to protect your windows from breakage. Alternately, fit plywood panels to your windows, which can be nailed to window frames when a storm approaches. Read about the importance of storm shutters here.
- Make sure exterior doors are hurricane-proof and have at least three hinges and a deadbolt lock that is at least one inch long.
- Sliding glass doors should be made of tempered glass and, during a storm, covered with shutters or plywood. These types of doors are more vulnerable to wind damage than most other doors.
- Replace old garage doors and tracks with a door that is approved for both wind pressure and impact protection. Wind coming into your home through an opening that large poses grave problems for the rest of your home — especially your roof.
- Seal outside wall openings such as vents, outdoor electrical outlets, garden hose bibs and locations where cables or pipes go through the wall. Use a high-quality urethane-based caulk to prevent water penetration.
- If you live in a mobile home, make sure you know how to secure it against high winds and be sure to review your mobile home insurance policy. Find out more here. Reminder: mobile homes are not safe in high winds, and you will need to move to a safer place before a storm hits. Always follow the advice of your local community officials.
- If you have a boat on a trailer, know how to anchor the trailer to the ground or house — and review your boat insurance policy. Find out more here.
Clinton Mora is a reporter for Trending Insurance News. He has previously worked for the Forbes. As a contributor to Trending Insurance News, Clinton covers emerging a wide range of property and casualty insurance related stories.