When it comes to weather, Tucson, AZ cranks everything up to eleven. It doesn’t just get hot here, it gets three-inches-from-the-sun hot, and the storms are no joke either. When they tell us there’s a mild storm on the way, we know better. We pack our pantries, load up our water jugs, and test our flashlights. But it’s just as important to be prepared for the aftermath of the storm as for the storm itself. Here’s what you need to know.
Some Damages Might, Or Might Not, Be Insured
Read over your insurance policy and call your agent with any questions. You’re probably covered from wind damages unless the policy explicitly states an exception. Flooding on the other hand, maybe not. You want to make sure that you have a level of protection that you’re comfortable with, so get in touch with your agent and make sure.
Some Responsibility Rests On The Homeowner’s Shoulders
You might not be able to file a claim on any damages that could be chalked up to owner negligence. That is if you could just turn the water valve off and the room fan on to stop a broken pipe from ruining your walls, or move your valuables away from a leaky roof spot, then you’ll want to get that taken care. Do a check of the house and see if there’s anything you can handle. Shutting the power off to keep electrical damages from getting worse, stretching a tarp over a broken window, putting buckets under the leaks. Anything to keep the situation from getting worse than it already is.
Reliable Contractors Don’t Go Door-to-Door
Any contractor with a good reputation, one who runs an honest business, is going to have their phones ringing off the hook right after a storm. The last thing they’re going to be doing is wandering door to door trying to pick up new clients. Storm chasers, people who set up a fly-by-night company so that they can cash the check from your insurance provider and hit the breeze, never to be seen or heard from again, those guys go door to door with pushy sales tactics and big promises. But reliable contractors? You’re going to have to break out the yellow pages and the laptop and do a little research to make sure you’re getting an honest deal.
It should be said: Any storm supplies you’ve used up, make sure to replace them. Storm season is never over until it’s over, and there’s no telling if there’s another tornado or monsoon on the way as soon as the last one has passed. And if not, well, then you’ll be ahead of the game next time the skies start looking a little too still and gray. In construction they say measure twice, cut once. That same attitude helps in storm preparation. The earlier you prepare, the bigger a pat on the back you’ll give yourself when that preparation comes in handy.
