1. (NU) - Tornado season has al-
ready taken its toll in human life
and property -- especially gut-
wrenching was the death of a
young Arkansas couple trying to
shield their 18-month-old daugh-
ter from the twister that destroyed
their home -- and history tells us
we’re looking at more of the same,
at least through June, at which
point we’ll be at the start of prime
time for hurricanes.
And for those who need re-
minding, 2012’s Hurricane Sandy
taught even NewYorkers that “the
unexpected can and does happen,”
as Radley M. Horton, a climate sci-
entist at Columbia University’s
Earth Institute, has said.
So, how should homeowners
prepare before the next storm hits?
Read on.
• Clean yourgutters. Even in
perfect weather, we’re talking fire
hazard if they’re clogged with
mounds of leaves, sticks and oth-
er debris. Factor in a hurricane-
strength rainstorm, though, and the
very roofing system component
meant to control the flow of all that
water -- thereby protecting your
roof, walls, foundation and land-
scape from flooding -- can sud-
denly wind up being about as use-
ful as a drugged guard dog.
“Gutter prevention is measured
in pennies; repairs are measured in
dollars,” to quote Angie’s List.
•Trim weak tree branches.
Seriously, you don’t even want
Santa Claus crashing into your
house at 74 m.p.h.
•Storm-proof your roof. Be-
fore there was Hurricane Sandy,
there was 2011’s Hurricane Irene.
And the months that followed
that $15.6-billion disaster --
Sandy caused more than four
times that in damage -- was about
when experts started noticing
what they called “an upsurge” in
storm-proofing upgrades like
wind-resistant roofing.
“If you’re going to upgrade,
look for shingles that have passed
UL 2218 Class-4 rating impact
tests, which is the highest possi-
ble,” says Jason Joplin, program
manager of the Center for theAd-
vancement of Roofing Excellence.
He likes either the TimberlineAr-
morShield II or Grand Sequoia IR
lines of shingles from GAF
(www.gaf.com), NorthAmerica’s
largest roofing manufacturer, both
of which offer numerous design-
er shingle options that have also
met rigorousAC438 performance
testing requirements.
•Don’t leave yourself open to
con artists. "When the flood wa-
ters recede, that's when fraud
comes to the surface," Neal Buc-
cino of New Jersey's Division of
Consumer Affairs has warned.
Meaning, now’s the time to pre-
pare a list of reputable contractors
in your area.
Why? The hucksters who in-
variably show up in rubble-strewn
neighborhoods are more interest-
ed in turning a quick buck than
making sure any repairs last longer
than the time it takes them to beat
it out of town. If you’ve done your
homework, you’ll send them pack-
ing and avoid being fleeced.
AStorm Season To-Do
List for Homeowners
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It may be time for an upgrade
to wind-resistant roofing.
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