Storm season in Connecticut runs the whole range: high wind, heavy rain, power outages and property damage. Preparation splits neatly into three parts, before, during and after. This is the short version you can work through in an afternoon. Which of these did you already do before the last storm came through?
Before the storm
Check the property. Trim overhanging branches, clean out the gutters, and secure outdoor furniture and anything else that becomes a projectile in high wind. Stock emergency supplies. Water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit and any medications people in the house need. Extra chargers and pet supplies as well. Have a backup power plan. If you own a generator, test it and know how to run it safely, because the carbon monoxide risk kills more people than the outage does. Check the insurance. Confirm your homeowner's policy covers storm and flood damage, and photograph the property and your belongings now, while nothing has happened yet. Documentation before a claim is worth more than documentation after one. Agree a communication plan. How the family reaches each other if the phones are down, with contact details for neighbours, relatives and emergency services kept somewhere you can grab it.
During the storm
Stay indoors, away from windows. No candles. Battery-powered lights instead. Avoid plumbing and wired electronics while lightning is in the area. If flooding is possible, move valuables and documents to higher ground.
After the storm
Once it is safe, walk the property and look for roof leaks, fallen trees or branches, broken windows, and water in basements or crawl spaces. Damage that looks minimal often hides water inside the structure or a compromise that gets expensive if it is ignored for a few weeks.
If anything at all has taken a hit, JP Maguire handles water damage, mold remediation, fire and structural repairs, works directly with your insurance company, and answers 24/7 on 877-576-2484.
Where to go from here
If this is happening in your house right now, these are the pages Connecticut homeowners reach for, each one saying what the work involves and how to get a crew rolling: water damage restoration. Water extraction, drying, then the rebuild. fire damage restoration. Soot, smoke odour, and putting the rooms back. mold remediation. Finding it, containing it, and removing it properly. storm damage restoration. Wind damage, fallen trees, emergency tarping. burst pipe repair. Stopping the leak, then repairing what it reached. 24/7 emergency restoration. A person on the phone, any hour of the night.
Also from the blog: What to Check Before the Next Fall Storm Hits, Get Your Patio Ready Before the Storm Hits and More on storm preparation.