Mount Dora Homes: A Tour of Hurricane Protection

Florida—home to beautiful beaches, world-class theme parks… and, of course, summer hurricanes. With the Atlantic Hurricane Season here, it’s time to think about storm protection for your home if you haven’t already—and whether you’re new to the state or could just use a refresher on protection tips, we can help you do just that! We’ve put together a room to room tour of hurricane protection tips for your Mount Dora home.

In the kitchen… you will want to board up and seal for leaks like you would in any other area of the home. But in the kitchen specifically, you should focus on collecting the food and beverage items you may need in case of a hurricane. These include:

• At least a three days’ supply of nonperishable foods (such as cereals, canned pasta, granola bars, etc.) for each member of your family
• At least a three days’ supply (although two weeks’ or more is preferable) of bottled drinking water for each member of your family
• Enough food and water for your pets, for the same amount of time as shown above
• Disposable utensils for canned foods

Also in your kitchen, you should turn down your refrigerator and freezer’s temperatures to be as cool as functionally possible—if the power goes out, you run less risk of spoiling your food as the cool temperature will preserve freshness longer.

In the garage… you should store any loose items not attached to the ground outside—this can include patio furniture, bikes, pool floats, sports supplies and more.

In the pool and yard… be sure not to leave any unsecured items outside; they could blow away and create an unnecessary hazard as debris. Place them inside your garage or another storage unit. If you need to, store any non-glass furniture in your pool (non-glass to avoid any potential shattering). Do not drain your pool—the displaced water can cause your pool’s foundation to buckle due to the change in pressure. Instead, simply leave the water at or just below its normal level.

In the driveway… be sure to fill up your car with gas before a hurricane is close—if it makes landfall in your area, the lines and demand for gasoline may be too high to meet everyone’s needs. If possible, place your car in the garage or under cover to prevent it from getting damaged by debris. Of course, avoid driving during a hurricane.

In the bathroom… the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say filling up a tub or sink with water before a storm can be a good way to preserve clean water for washing.

Around the house… there are some general measures you can take to boost your home’s protection. Be sure to install hurricane shutters if you don’t already have storm resistant impact windows (at this point in the year, installing impact windows may or may not be feasible—check with your window builder). Turn off your power if you have to leave your home or if you see signs of flooding.

Hurricane Season may be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be scary when you’re prepared to take it on!