With hurricane season in full swing, it’s important to know what’s true and what’s not when preparing for the possibility of a storm near you and your home. There are many theories that are have grown into false narratives over the years and can create a false sense of ease or panic. It’s important to listen to credible resources when it comes to storms, especially hurricanes, that will give you factual information you can trust. Read on for our top five debunked myths on hurricanes.
Only coastal areas are at risk from a hurricane.
Usually, coastal towns are the ones that see the most severe damage from a hurricane, they are never alone. The effects of a storm are felt far more inland than just the coastline. Heavy winds, sheets of rain, tornados, and flooding are more than just a possibility hundreds of miles from the coast. According to the National Hurricane Center, effects from Tropical Storm Allison wreaked an estimated $4.8 billion in damages to the city of Houston.
Since I have home insurance, I’ll be fine.
Yes, having home insurance is an important part of being prepared for a severe storm. However – most homeowner’s insurance has an extremely high deductible for hurricane damage, and may not even cover flooding. Checking what is included in your coverage is a good idea to better prepare your home.
A hurricane will destroy the house anyway, so what’s the point in preparing for it?
There is always a chance that a hurricane will destroy everything in its path – but it’s always a good idea to prepare for it in the best way possible. In efforts of minimizing damage, you should board your windows, remove objects around your home that are capable of becoming dangerous in high winds, and trimming threatening limbs from nearby trees.
Taping windows will keep them from breaking.
Although it seems solid in theory, the tape doesn’t do much to help protect the windows of your home during a powerful storm. Instead of using tape, storm shutters are imperative to protecting your home – you can find different types of storm protection here.
It won’t hit here.
The biggest myth of all. There’s no denying that predicting exactly where a hurricane will hit is a difficult job. But, just because the eye of the storm isn’t headed for you, doesn’t mean your home won’t see any damage. The best way to protect your loved ones, your home, and yourself from a storm are to plan ahead and be as cautious as you can.
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