Every year, June 1 marks the start of hurricane season. Based on where you live, this time of year can be a one that causes great concern. Florida, South Caroline, Alabama, and Georgia are a few states that are the most susceptible to hurricanes. The hurricane season ends in November so there are five months where you will need to plan ahead to secure both your safety, and that of your belongings in the event of a hurricane. If you have items in self storage and live in a hurricane-prone area, there are certain precautions you can take to safeguard your items in the event of a hurricane:
• Protect fragile items by packing carefully – If you have come across this tip before, it’s because it is one of those great pieces of advice in self storage that can never get old. Secure packing can go a long way in self storage and can basically help to protect your items in just about every single situation. Hurricanes usually come with very strong winds. In the event that the items in your self storage unit get affected by storm winds, packing your items securely can help to prevent damage.
• Elevate items on racks – This is a great tip for protecting against flood waters that are also a side effect of hurricanes. For items that are particularly valuable, store them at the very top of your unit. There is no way to predict how far flood waters will rise in a bad hurricane but the higher your items are, then the lesser the likelihood of having them damaged by water.
• Research the facility – Your items will only be as safe as the facility that stores them. You are well within your right to inquire about the precautions that the self storage facility will take in the event of a natural disaster. You can even go a step further and check to see if the building codes are up to date. Another important thing to look out for is the age of the building. Older buildings may be subject to decay and are likely not to withstand very strong winds.
• Use waterproof containers – Combining the elevation of your items with waterproof storage containers will provide extra protection for your belongings in the event of a flood. Flooding is one of the biggest concerns of hurricanes and a waterproof container will certainly help with keeping your items dry.
Take the necessary precautions to secure yourself and your family before thinking about items in your self storage unit. Keep up with organizations like the National Hurricane Center and stay tuned for more helpful self storage tips as the summer months progress.
