How To Protect Your Belongings During Hurricanes and Tropical Storms
When hurricane season comes to Florida, it’s important to be ready. Strong winds, heavy rain, and flooding can quickly damage or destroy your belongings.
If you’re storing items from home, your business, or belongings that hold sentimental value, planning ahead and finding a secure location for them can make all the difference. Atlantic Self Storage offers indoor and outdoor storage options to help you take care of your belongings during inclement weather.
How Hurricanes and Tropical Storms Affect Your Belongings
Hurricanes and tropical storms can cause high winds and torrential downpours that may damage your home, yard, and personal belongings. During a hurricane or tropical storm, strong winds can break windows, knock over trees, and blow debris around.
Heavy rain can also cause flooding, especially in areas near the coast, such as Jacksonville. Together, these dangers can lead to severe water damage and destroy items stored in your home, garage, or shed.
Common Types of Hurricane Damage to Personal and Business Items
When personal belongings get wet, water can warp or crack wooden furniture, ruin electronics, and cause mold to grow on clothes, papers, and photos. As for business items, flooding can also harm products, inventory, or office equipment, especially if they’re stored on the floor.
Hurricane Safety Tips for Keeping Your Property Secure
Getting ready before a hurricane can help keep your home and belongings secure from strong winds, rain, and flooding.
Create a Hurricane Preparedness Checklist
Before hurricane season begins, take a moment to create a hurricane preparedness checklist. Write down everything you’ll need, like:
- Food
- Water
- Flashlights
- Batteries
- First aid kit
- Documents
Make sure to include your evacuation plan, contact numbers, and steps to secure your home, such as bringing in outdoor furniture and checking windows and doors.
Organize and Label Belongings for Quick Access Before a Storm
When you’re getting ready for hurricane season, organization is key. Clearly label bins and boxes by category or room, such as kitchen, office, or bedroom, so you can quickly find what you need if you need to leave your home or move items to storage. Use waterproof labels or tape to ensure writing remains readable, especially in damp conditions.
How Climate-Controlled Storage Can Help Your Items During Severe Weather
After a hurricane or tropical storm, Florida’s humidity can stay high for weeks, which can cause damage long after the rain stops. Thankfully, a climate-controlled storage unit helps maintain your belongings by keeping the temperature and humidity steady.
Severe Storm Safety Tips
Before a storm arrives, storing your belongings properly can keep them secure from strong winds, heavy rain, and flooding.
Use Sturdy Containers and Waterproof Bins
Instead of using cardboard boxes, opt for plastic storage bins that are sturdy and water-resistant. Cardboard can absorb moisture and fall apart, but plastic bins help keep your belongings dry and secure. We recommend confirming each container has a tight-fitting lid to block out humidity, leaks, and pests.
Elevate Items To Avoid Water Submersion
When storing your belongings before a storm, it’s smart to keep everything off the ground. Use sturdy shelving units, pallets, or plastic risers to lift boxes and furniture a few inches higher. This additional height shields your items if water starts to rise or the floor gets damp.
Assessing Losses and Returning to Normal After the Storm
After a hurricane or tropical storm, it’s essential to inspect your home and belongings for damage so you can begin cleaning up and returning to normal.
Properly Inspecting Your Property and Stored Items
As soon as officials confirm it’s safe to go outside, carefully check your home and storage unit for any signs of destruction. Wear gloves to shield your hands, and bring a flashlight to see clearly in dark or wet areas. Make sure to use a camera or your phone to take pictures of any losses so you can share them with your insurance company later.
Cleaning and Drying Out Damp Belongings
If any of your belongings do get wet during the storm, it’s important to dry them completely as soon as possible. Wipe off any standing water and set items in a warm, airy space. Also, use fans, open windows, or a dehumidifier to help remove excess moisture from the air.
Using Self Storage To Stay Organized During Recovery
As you begin cleaning up after a hurricane or tropical storm, using a self storage unit can make the process easier and more organized. It provides a secure space to separate what can be saved from what needs to be discarded, allowing you to stay focused while sorting through the mess.
Stay Storm-Ready With Atlantic Self Storage
When hurricane season starts, don’t wait until the last minute to keep your belongings secure. Atlantic Self Storage offers clean and easy-to-use storage options across Jacksonville and northeast Florida.
With online payments, resident storage experts, and month-to-month rentals, we make it convenient to store your items before, during, and after the storm. Find a storage location near you and call or contact us online today.
