Hurricane Alex leaves a path of flood damages

Alex Kicks off the 2010 Hurricane Season by Drenching Northern Mexico and Texas
Now it’s official. The 2010 hurricane season is underway with the very first storm hitting landfall. Hurricane Alex tore roofs off homes, caused severe flooding and forced the evacuation of thousands of people to flee coastal fishing villages in Mexico before dying down to become a tropical storm.

Luckily, Alex went easy on Texas where tens of thousands of residents were expecting a direct hit. The storm did dump heavy amounts of rain, spawned two tornadoes and forced one thousand residents to evacuate in some low-lying areas but there were no reported injuries nor major damage reported. So, here we are again at the kickoff of the newest hurricane season and while many people in Texas are sighing with relief the truth is that this is just the beginning of what is expected to be an active year for hurricanes.

If you are a resident who lives in a hurricane-prone area you should be sure that you are prepared for the possibility of a hurricane hitting your neighborhood. It is a good idea to review your insurance coverage to ensure that you are properly covered for storm damage, flooding and other types of storm damage. It is also wise to review your area’s evacuation plans and routes and to keep an eye on the local news so that you are well informed. If you reside in a low-lying area you should ready your home and property as best as you can in the case of a flood. You can install permanent, basement window well covers that are made of rugged plastic which lock shut to prevent rushing water from entering your basement.

You should also see to it that your roof is in good condition. Climb up on your roof so that you can inspect it for loose shingles or eaves-troughs. Replace missing shingles with new ones and secure and clear the eaves. It is also a good idea to purchase longer downspouts that are at least three yards long so that you can direct the water down and away from the foundation of your home. You can also grade the yard around your home on a downward slope which will direct pooling rainwater away from your house. Trim the trees and cut down large, loose branches that could damage your home in high winds.

Last but not least, see to it that you have a phone number handy to a local storm/flood remediation company. By doing so you can call for help quickly if you discover standing water in your home or some other type of damage that was done by the storm.