The winter is over, spring has passed and the ‘official’ summer is here. All you have to worry about weather-wise for the next few months is that you’ve safety checked your barbecue grill and that you have the right kind of sunscreen.
All that lies ahead now is months and months of glorious sun. And if you are in the process of selling your Waterloo Region home it’s a great time – especially since your outdoor decor will look so fabulous in the summer sunshine.
Except we all know very well that’s not the case.
With the summer sun also come the summer storms. And sometimes they are more than just a nuisance, they can be downright dangerous and damaging. The Waterloo Region is no stranger to harsh summer storms – have been some really nasty storms in our region over the course of the last few summers, and the damage they did to some homes was extensive, to say the least.
Ontario has already experienced a less than usual storm event this year, the derecho storm that hit our area in May
This Global News CA Summer 2022 weather forecast is predicting both higher temperatures and more storms this summer than last year. So ensuring that your Waterloo Region can weather a storm this summer should be a priority for homeowners.
As always though, a little prevention and preparation can go a long way when it comes to protecting your property, yourself and your loved ones from the ravages of a summer storm. Here is a basic, but very important, list of summer storm preparation tips:
Take pictures of both the inside and outside your property as they look at the beginning of the summer. Make sure they are time and date stamped and that you store digital copies somewhere in the ‘cloud’. Google Drive and Dropbox are both great choices, and both are offered free of charge. With the pictures stored there, you will still have access to them even if your home, and/or home electronics are damaged. They will also be extremely helpful for insurance purposes should damage occur.
If you have a generator, make sure it is serviced before storm season begins. If you don’t have a generator, you should seriously consider making the investment in one. They range, depending on size, from between $500-$2,000 at home stores like Lowe’s and this relatively modest investment can be a real lifesaver.
Have an emergency plan in place should a bad storm hit. Make sure you decide where you would go and how you would get there. In addition, in terms of ‘first aid’ for your home, check your insurance coverages and explore your local options for water and fire damage emergency services. Once you have found a reputable company, keep their number handy, just in case. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, even if it seems a bit morbid to plan for a disaster.
Make sure overhanging trees are trimmed back and that patio/deck furniture is either secured or is placed in an open area away from windows and doors. The derecho we already experienced this year brought extremely high winds, and the worst of those in Ontario were clocked right in Kitchener, reaching up to 82mph., making this especially important to take care of now if you have not already.
As even the insurance companies refer to a summer storm as ‘an act of God’ you can’t prevent or even completely predict when one will hit, but you can at least be as prepared to ride it out as safely as possible while also protecting your Waterloo Region home.
