TUCSON, Ariz. — When it comes to Monsoon, most of us are aware of the usual threats… lightning, flooding, and strong winds. But what about your house?
Ken Drozd of the Tucson National Weather Service has a few basic weather proofing tasks that could save you from some costly home repairs.
One of the most common questions weather experts get, is regarding severe weather and home damage. Drozd says something as simple as checking your trees around your home is a good place to start. “If you have tree limbs that might be dead that will be easily brought down by the wind, you want to make sure those are trimmed beforehand. Also, because they might fall on power lines if you're near power lines and then you've knocked your own power out."
And don’t forget your gutters. Making sure you've got all the debris removed from your gutters will help ensure that your drainage system works properly, and that can also help with flooding around your house. Drozd adds, “Also just watch the water near your house for rain, just runoff in general so it's draining away from your house, and not running into your house where there could be issues with flooding. Especially if you're house is on a level grade with the ground.”
Another good tip? Make sure your roof is in good condition. Checking around your skylights on the roof, making sure there are no cracks or leaks before the storm, is always good practice. Plus, awnings or any sort of overhangs should be inspected, as they are susceptible to strong wind damage.
I also spoke with local Insurance Agent, Edmund Marquez. He tells me one of the most important things you can do to avoid costly damages is to have insurance. "In all reality you have an asset sitting there that might be worth 150, 200-thousand dollars, 100-thousand dollars, so please make sure your insurance policy is in place. All it takes is one fire, and you've just lost 100 to 200 thousand dollars. Also, “If your roof is 15 years old, the insurance company expects you to maintain that roof, and not expect your insurance policy to do so. We're there for the damage that happens from the weather, especially from Monsoons. So, the damage that happens is covered, the maintenance is not."
If your home does get damaged during a storm, you can go to the National Center for Environmental Information website, to check if there are any strong wind or hail reports. It’s also helpful to notify the National Weather Service as soon as it happens, so they can keep those records up to date.
