If tornadoes popping up in Haldimand (1) and Niagara (2) recently have you spooked and thinking more about what this means for your home then you’re far from alone.
How do you protect yourself?
One of the first (and easiest) things you should do is speak with your home insurance company to see what you may or may not be covered for when it comes to tornado damage.
SPOILER ALERT: If you have home insurance with Erie Mutual Insurance, then you’re very likely protected.
RELATED ARTICLE: Does Home Insurance Cover Tornadoes?
MORE WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM TORNADO DAMAGE
Protecting your home from tornado damage can involve strategic planning, structural reinforcements and preparedness.
Here are some tips on how to help safeguard your property and loved ones:
1/ REMOVE OUTDOOR HAZARDS
It doesn’t need to be a full-fledged tornado for strong winds to send things like trees and patio furniture off the ground.
- Anchor as many things to the ground as possible (e.g. trampoline, tables, BBQ etc)
- Store as much as possible indoors when there are storm warnings (e.g. chairs, decorations, sports equipment, trash cans etc)
- Maintain trees and shrubs by regularly removing dead branches and weak limbs, especially near your house where they could do the most damage if they break off.
2/ SECURE UTILITIES
Knowing your utilities are protected and how to manage them in the worst-case scenarios will offer peace of mind.
- Install Surge Protectors to protect your electrical systems from power surges caused by storms.
- Familiarize yourself with how to shut off gas, water, and electricity. Trying to figure that out during the storm isn’t the time to learn.
3\ BE PREPARED
Be ready to survive and thrive during a natural disaster like a tornado
- Create an emergency kit that includes necessities like water, non-perishable food, flashlights with extra batteries, first aid supplies and a crank radio to stay informed.
- Install a backup power generator to run essentials when the power goes out. Bonus: backup power generators are covered by your home insurance policy and having one installed could even lower the cost of home insurance.
- Develop a disaster plan so that everyone in your home knows what to do and where to go in the event of things like a fire or a tornado. Different disasters will require different responses so make sure everyone knows what to do in every scenario.
4\ TORNADO PROOF YOUR HOME
Ok so these may be a bit over the top given the current level of risk tornadoes pose for southern Ontario.
However, with a changing climate, there’s no way to know for sure what the near or distant future holds for what weather-related risks we’ll face down the road.
- Reinforce the roof and walls by using hurricane clips or straps to secure the roof to the walls and the walls to the foundation.
- Install windows-resistant shutters and/or impact-resistant windows to protect your home from flying debris.
- Reinforce garage doors with braces to prevent them from being blown in.
- Consider installing reinforced storm doors that can handle high winds.
- Elevate electrical systems and consider flood vents if water intrusion is a risk.
By implementing some of these measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of tornado damage to your home and protect the personal safety of yourself and your family.
Erie Mutual Insurance proudly serves the commercial insurance, farm insurance, home insurance and auto insurance needs of members throughout Southern Ontario including Haldimand, Niagara and Hamilton.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have about this or any other topic related to your insurance.
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