Tornado Preparedness
Preventative Maintenance
Trim trees and shrubs. Cut branches and trees that could fall onto your home
Secure all outside furniture, grills and toys so they can not become airborne
Check the end wall of all gable roofs to ensure they are braced properly against damaging wind. In fact, houses that have more than one story should be checked to ensure that the upper story wall framing is firmly connected to the lower framing.
If you are installing a new roof, always work with a qualified contractor who will take the appropriate steps to ensure the new roof covering and sheathing will be able to resist high wind damage.
Garage doors should be examined by a qualified inspector to help determine if they need to be replaced with a stronger type or have permanent wood or metal stiffeners installed
Make sure all entry door frames are firmly anchored to the wall framing. All entry doors should have at a minimum three hinges and a dead bolt (1 inch or longer)
Consider installing impact – resistant windows. Patio doors or sliding glass doors are extremely susceptible to damage from high winds. When replacing patio doors, or building new doors, consider using impact-resistant doors made of laminated glass, a combination of plastic and glass or plastic glazing.
Check with a registered design professional to make sure the walls are properly anchored to the foundation and if needed, work with a contractor to correct any potential problems that have been identified.
