Are You Prepared For Hurricane Season?
The National Institute of Building Sciences reports that every dollar of federal grant funding for disaster mitigation saves six dollars in damages and repairs. This statistic demonstrates the financial benefit of hurricane preparedness.
However, we were curious if people’s actual preparedness matched the recommendations from FEMA and other authorities, so we conducted our own survey. Are residents in hurricane-prone states ready for the upcoming hurricane season, which will bring high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surges, and power outages?
This page provides additional hurricane preparedness statistics and tips to ensure you’re ready this season.
How Many People Are Prepared for the 2021 Hurricane Season?
In a survey of more than 600 residents living in hurricane-prone states, we learned about the storm preparations being made before the 2021 hurricane season. Respondents live in Florida, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Maryland, Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Delaware, and Washington, D.C.
The topline results reveal that 30 percent of people at risk of hurricane damage have little to no hurricane preparation. By contrast, only 24 percent are equipped to weather a storm.
One-third of People Are Unprepared for a Hurricane
According to survey data, no prevailing themes drive the behavior of the 30 percent of people who have made minimal to no hurricane preparations.
About 25 percent of this group are moderately to extremely concerned about a hurricane despite their lack of preparation. By contrast, some of the residents who have not made any preparations have a high tolerance for risk, and 16 percent say they would rarely or never follow an evacuation order during a hurricane.
Additionally, some of the residents have had first-hand experience with hurricane recovery. About 36 percent of those with little to no preparation have previously sustained hurricane damage, and some had more than $50,000 worth of hurricane damage.
Which Areas Are Most Prepared for Hurricanes?
Clear geographic trends exist in hurricane preparedness, but the states with the strongest preparations may surprise you.
Florida and North Carolina have some of the worst cities for hurricane damage, so one may assume the residents of these states would be adequately prepared for hurricane damage. However, data reveals that Florida and North Carolina rank in the middle in hurricane preparedness.
Instead, the residents of Alabama are most prepared for a hurricane. Only 12 percent have made little to no hurricane preparations, and nearly half say they’re ready.
How Do People Prepare for a Hurricane?
There are many ways to prepare for a hurricane, including securing outdoor furniture, fueling a home generator, or installing a sump pump.
Our survey respondents shared how they typically prepare for a hurricane. The most common tasks are collecting supplies, including bottled water, non-perishable food items, and batteries. Only about a quarter of people are preparing for power outages by installing or testing a generator. Despite the flood damage and storm surge potential, less than 20 percent prepare by installing drainage systems, waterproofing solutions, or sump pumps.
How to Prepare for a Hurricane
Hurricane preparations should always consider property protection and personal safety.
Storing non-perishable food items, bottled water, prescriptions, important documents, and pet items is crucial. However, you can enhance your emergency kit by including cash, battery backups, and a generator.
Protect your property by installing drainage systems, shutters, and unclogging gutters to prepare for heavy rain, high winds, flooding, and power outages. Remember, water may cause more hurricane damage than wind, with just one inch of water sometimes causing $25,000 in damages, according to FEMA.
Basement waterproofing and crawl space encapsulation solutions protect your home from hurricane and flood damage and improve storm resilience.
Contact a foundation and waterproofing expert for a free inspection to determine the appropriate safety preparedness measures for your property.
Protect Your Property with Groundworks
Groundworks protects your home from hurricane flooding with trusted foundation repair and waterproofing solutions.
Contact us for a free inspection to determine the appropriate steps to ensure your home remains safe and dry this hurricane season.
Foundation Waterproofing FAQs
While a dehumidifier can help reduce moisture after flooding, it’s not a solution for flooding issues. A proper waterproofing system is necessary for severe water problems.
Waterproofing typically is done to the inside of your basement or crawl space, not the outside. Interior waterproofing is longer lasting, and it is much easier to do. If you have a basement foundation, then it is virtually impossible to waterproof it from the outside once it has already been built.
Basement waterproofing is definitely worth it. It enhances your home’s value and appeals to potential buyers, offering immediate and long-term benefits for your property.
