Uploaded April 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Hurricane season runs from May 15th through November 30th in the Eastern Pacific and from June 1st until November 30th in the Atlantic and Caribbean. Hurricanes and tropical storms can be dangerous and cause major damage to properties primarily due to storm surge, wind damage and flooding.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reminds the public that hurricanes don’t only affect people living along the coast. They can cause damage hundreds of miles from the shore. If a hurricane or tropical storm may be on its way, CDC recommends that people get their homes ready with the following suggestions:
• Clear the yard. Make sure there’s nothing that could blow around during the storm and damage the home. Move bikes, lawn furniture, grills, propane tanks and building material inside or under shelter.
• Cover up windows and doors. Use storm shutters or nail pieces of plywood to the outside window frames to protect windows. This can help keep people safe from pieces of shattered glass.
• Be ready to turn off the power. If there is flooding, downed power lines or one has to leave their home, switch the power off.
• Fill clean water containers with drinking water in case the water supply is lost during the storm. People can also fill up sinks and bathtubs with water for washing.
• Check the carbon monoxide (CO) detector’s battery to prevent CO poisoning.
For those that do sustain storm damage to their home, there are a number of potential environmental hazards to be aware of when it safe to assess and repair the property. Any water damage and excessive humidity in a structure can allow mold to begin to grow in as short as 24 to 48 hours. Flood waters could also introduce sewage and chemicals into the structure. In addition, many older homes still contain lead-based paints and asbestos-containing materials. These can become aerosolized during cleanup, demolition and rebuilding efforts if not handled properly.
These are just a few of the many things to know about preparing a home for a hurricane or tropical storm. To learn more about this or other building science, water damage, indoor air quality, environmental, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
Hurricane season runs from May 15th through November 30th in the Eastern Pacific and from June 1st until November 30th in the Atlantic and Caribbean. Hurricanes and tropical storms can be dangerous and cause major damage to properties primarily due to storm surge, wind damage and flooding.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reminds the public that hurricanes don’t only affect people living along the coast. They can cause damage hundreds of miles from the shore. If a hurricane or tropical storm may be on its way, CDC recommends that people get their homes ready with the following suggestions:
• Clear the yard. Make sure there’s nothing that could blow around during the storm and damage the home. Move bikes, lawn furniture, grills, propane tanks and building material inside or under shelter.
• Cover up windows and doors. Use storm shutters or nail pieces of plywood to the outside window frames to protect windows. This can help keep people safe from pieces of shattered glass.
• Be ready to turn off the power. If there is flooding, downed power lines or one has to leave their home, switch the power off.
• Fill clean water containers with drinking water in case the water supply is lost during the storm. People can also fill up sinks and bathtubs with water for washing.
• Check the carbon monoxide (CO) detector’s battery to prevent CO poisoning.
For those that do sustain storm damage to their home, there are a number of potential environmental hazards to be aware of when it safe to assess and repair the property. Any water damage and excessive humidity in a structure can allow mold to begin to grow in as short as 24 to 48 hours. Flood waters could also introduce sewage and chemicals into the structure. In addition, many older homes still contain lead-based paints and asbestos-containing materials. These can become aerosolized during cleanup, demolition and rebuilding efforts if not handled properly.
These are just a few of the many things to know about preparing a home for a hurricane or tropical storm. To learn more about this or other building science, water damage, indoor air quality, environmental, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
