It’s time again for hurricane season! Which means it’s also time again for our annual hurricane preparedness blog post! If this is your first in Florida, Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, with August and September typically the most active months. The key word here is “typically,” which could change this year. So whether you’re a new transplant, native, or semi-native, you need to take action now! Here’s why.
Get Ready for La Nina and a More Active Hurricane Season
This hurricane season marks the beginning of the La Nina cycle. There are highly technical explanations for this climate cycle – which usually lasts one to three years – but the bottom line is that a La Nina cycle is marked by more frequent and intense hurricanes. AP science writer Seth Borenstein describes La Nina as follows:
”When meteorologists look at how busy a hurricane season is, two factors matter most: ocean temperatures in the Atlantic where storms spin up and need warm water for fuel, and whether there is a La Nina or El Nino, the natural and periodic cooling or warming of Pacific Ocean waters that changes weather patterns worldwide. A La Nina tends to turbocharge Atlantic storm activity while depressing storminess in the Pacific, and an El Nino does the opposite.
“La Nina usually reduces high-altitude winds that can decapitate hurricanes, and generally during a La Nina there’s more instability or storminess in the atmosphere, which can seed hurricane development. Storms get their energy from hot water. Ocean waters have been record warm for 13 months in a row and a La Nina is forecast to arrive by mid to late summer. The current El Nino is dwindling and is expected to be gone within a month or so.”
With tropical storms already stirring up, you can’t afford to be complacent – as you may have been in recent years – about not expecting major activity until August. Now is the time to prepare!
Check the Condition of Your Roof, Exterior Walls and Screen Pool Enclosure
Preventing wind damage and water intrusion depends upon ensuring the exterior systems of your house are as tight as possible.
Roofs are particularly vulnerable to hurricane damage. Mark Kaufman Roofing recommends having the roof inspected and any needed repairs taken care of promptly. “This might include getting damaged or missing shingles or tiles replaced, having missing metal panel anchors replaced, getting any flashing defects dealt with, and making sure that loose soffits, ventilation turbines and gable end/eave vents are properly secured. Have hurricane straps or truss tie-downs added in the attic to bolster the roof/wall connections and bracing installed if your roof has gable ends taller than 48 inches.”
Also clean out the gutters and repair any deficiencies – such as sagging or poorly-attached sections, or loose or poorly-placed downspouts. If your gutters are clogged, the backed-up water will sit on your roof, and the probability of water entering your house will increase.
Next, assess the condition of your home’s exterior walls. It is crucial to caulk any cracks you see. Left unrepaired, they can cause damage when breached by driving hurricane-force winds and rain. The most weather-resistant types of caulk are silicone, urethane and Elastomeric latex caulk. Other options include acrylic and latex caulk, with the latter being especially easy to apply.
Inspect each window and door, and reseal if needed. Florida’s high summer temperatures take a toll on caulk around these components, making it necessary to reseal them more frequently than in moderate climates. Check the caulk around the frame and glazing around the panes carefully.
If your home has a screen pool enclosure, Dulando Screen & Awning offers the following advice:
Brace your screen enclosure – When bad weather takes down pool screen enclosures, inadequate bracing is often to blame. Pool enclosure hurricane braces reinforce the structural integrity of the pool enclosure. Verifying that your pool cage has hurricane braces before a storm arrives can minimize damage.
Check your enclosure’s hardware – Screws are small, but they can have a major effect when it comes to pool enclosure hurricane safety. Florida’s high humidity allows rust to flourish, and rusted fasteners leave a structure weak. Checking that your enclosure is built with corrosion-resistant fasteners is an easy way to ensure that it has the strength to survive severe weather.
Make Sure Your Trees are Trimmed and Healthy
Although trees may look strong and sturdy, they are especially susceptible in a hurricane. Weak, rotting, or dead branches can snap off in high winds, becoming projectiles that crash through windows or roofs, or onto vehicles – as well as bring down overhead utility lines (the main reason for prolonged post-hurricane power outages). Unhealthy or dying trees can likewise be uprooted and cause major property damage.
University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Extension provides the following advice:
- Prune weak, rotting, or dead tree branches and remove low-hanging ones near the house.
- Check tree roots for signs of rotting and remove any rotten or diseased trees or shrubs.
- Keep the tree canopy maintained and thinned to increase air circulation.
However, cutting tree branches and removing dead or unhealthy trees is not a DIY job! Hire a professional, as most people lack the experience, proper equipment and safety clothing – not to mention the necessary physical strength and stamina.
Make a Plan for Your Pool, Patio Furniture and Container Plants
Don’t wait until a hurricane is imminent before deciding where outdoor items should be moved to protect them. Look around your property to identify what you’ll need to bring indoors, move to a covered area or secure in place. Objects such as chairs, tables, toys and pool cleaning tools can become dangerous projectiles in hurricane-force winds and should be stored indoors. Also take in hanging pots, outdoor torches, string lights and other such items. Bring container plants inside. If this isn’t possible, line them against a wall in a covered area and tie them together. You can bring a gas grill indoors, but leave the propane tank outside, chained in an upright position to a solid object or structure.
Don’t throw patio furniture into the pool, as this can damage the pool’s finish – especially if you have a vinyl liner pool. Also, don’t cover the pool. It may sound counterintuitive, but a pool cover can be damaged by debris during a hurricane. It’s better to remove branches and other items that wind up in the pool than replace an expensive pool cover. Moreover, do not drain your pool before the storm – or ever! Draining a pool can cause it to bulge, split or pop out of the ground.
Be Prepared and Keep Safe this Hurricane Season
Even native and long-time Floridians can learn something useful about hurricane preparation. We encourage you to read our previous blog posts on this topic for additional details:
- Make Sure Your Property is Ready for Hurricane Season with Our Checklist
- Preparing Your Home’s Exterior for a Hurricane
- Preparing Your Home for Hurricane Season
- Hurricane Season is Here! Are You Ready?
- Hurricane Season is Here! Make Sure Your Property is Ready!
Being sure that you are prepared for a hurricane can help you feel more confident, knowing you’ve taken every step possible to make your home safe and secure. If you need help getting ready, The Paint Manager has served Central Florida since 2000 with quality professional services that include roof repair, caulking, gutter cleaning and painting.
Visit our website to learn about the many other services we provide – including pressure washing, roof cleaning and stump removal. Become a member of The Paint Manager to receive a 15% year-‘round member’s discount. Contact us to learn more about our services and membership discount offer.