Living on Florida's Gulf Coast means planning for storms every year. The best time to get a house ready is long before a cone shows up on the news — when hardware stores still have supplies and handymen still have openings.
Start outside. Walk around the house and look for loose fascia, soffit panels, and gutters. Anything that's already loose is the first thing the wind will pull off. Tighten or replace it, and clear the gutters and downspouts so heavy rain drains away from the foundation.
Check doors and windows. Worn weatherstripping and cracked caulk let wind-driven rain in around frames. Re-caulking exterior windows and doors is quick, cheap, and one of the best ways to keep water out of your walls. If you have shutters or panels, make sure the hardware is all there and the anchors are in good shape.
Look at fences, gates, and anything that could become a projectile. Loose fence boards, wobbly posts, and unsecured outdoor furniture are common sources of damage to your home and your neighbor's.
Inside, know where your main water shut-off is and make sure it turns. A shut-off that's seized solid is no help when a pipe or supply line fails. Test smoke detectors and swap batteries while you're at it.
After a storm, look for water stains on ceilings and walls, damaged drywall, and lifted flooring. Small leaks caught early are far cheaper than mold and rot found later. DMR takes emergency calls 24/7 — call (863) 722-6351 for storm prep or post-storm repairs anywhere from Bradenton to Sarasota and Riverview.