How to Prepare Your Home for Storm Season in Oklahoma
Storm season in Oklahoma is no laughing matter. It can go from hot, humid, and sticky to rainy and cold in a matter of minutes, and sometimes with tornadoes or hundred-mile-per-hour winds in between. As a team of experienced insurance professionals, we constantly assess risk and do our best to help our clients prepare for the unexpected. Spring weather in Oklahoma is no exception.
If you’re new to Oklahoma, storms can feel anxiety-inducing and scary, and if you’ve lived here a long time, it’s easy to become too relaxed about the risks that come with spring storms. Our team has compiled a list of our favorite tips for preparing your home for the Oklahoma tornado and storm season. You can find the quick checklist below and a detailed description of each item afterward. With just a few steps, your home and your family will be prepared for whatever the wind blows in.
Oklahoma Storm Season Checklist
Prepare an emergency kit
Review your insurance policies
Prepare and reinforce your home
Identify and prepare your tornado-safe space
Create a home inventory
Stay aware and informed about the weather
Prepare an Emergency Kit
Most Oklahomans know how important it is to have a few things on hand during storm season. It is recommended that you keep your emergency kit in your home or vehicle so it is easy to access in an emergency or extreme weather event. A tote bag, plastic-lidded box, or a duffle bag would work to contain your emergency kit items. Remember, the items included would be helpful when there is debris, minor injuries, or power loss.
Items to include in a storm preparedness kit:
Flashlight
Extra batteries
Water bottle
Non-perishable foods (like canned fruit, protein bars, etc.)
Small first aid kit
Work gloves
A blanket
Socks
Closed toed shoes
Other items you would need in case of an emergency like prescription medication, hygiene items, or pet food.
Review Your Insurance Policies
Before storm season each year, we recommend reviewing your homeowner's policy, auto insurance policy, and, if needed, your renter's policy. Spring is an excellent time to look at your policies and ensure they cover your property adequately. If you have made updates to your home, it is important to update your homeowner's policy to reflect those changes. It also might be time to increase coverage if you haven’t updated your policy in a few years, especially because of the increases in building costs. Coverage that will cover the cost of rebuilding your home or replacing damaged items is essential if your home is hit by a tornado or impacted by another weather-related event.
Additionally, with the risks associated with driving in the rain, Oklahoma’s spring hailstorms, and other weather-related driving risks - you might want to consider updating your auto policy. Spring is a great time to review your coverage.
We also recommend that renters be insured before tornado and storm season. While your landlord’s insurance will cover the building, it likely does not protect your possessions. Renter's insurance is affordable and provides peace of mind.
If you have any policy questions or are looking for a new insurance team to meet your needs, contact the Streller Agency today. We would love to help!
Prepare and Reinforce Your Home
After the ice and snow of the winter are through, it’s time to start thinking about springtime home maintenance. Some years, you may not need to do anything at all, but other years there may be issues that need to be repaired outside your home before the winds and rain of spring storms arrive. In early spring, we recommend taking a weekend to identify the areas of your home that need repair. Then make a plan.
Spring home maintenance may include:
Removing dead tree limbs or fallen limbs from winter ice storms
Repairing missing or loose shingles
Reinforcing or repairing loose siding, fencing, or other exterior structures
Securing your roof with roof clips
Investing in a garage door brace
Each year may look different, but pausing to evaluate your needs each year as storm season begins can protect your property if bad weather arrives.
Identify and Prepare Your Tornado-Safe Space
If you haven’t already, it’s time to determine the safest place in your home in case of a tornado warning. If a “tornado watch” is issued by the National Weather Service for your area, that’s an indication to be weather aware. If a “tornado warning” is given, that indicates an active tornado in your area. If you are under a tornado warning, it’s important to retreat to the safest location in your home. Your safe space may be in a storm shelter, basement, or reinforced steel room. If you live in a mobile home or home without a shelter, you should identify the location of your closest public tornado shelter or identify a neighbor with space to accommodate your household in their shelter. Know the path you need to take and ensure you act quickly.
Additionally, preparing your shelter or basement with a battery-powered flashlight and radio is important during storm season. Keep your emergency kit nearby, and make sure everyone in your household knows where to go.
Create a Home Inventory
If your home is damaged due to a tornado or other catastrophic event, having a detailed inventory of the contents of your home can help as we begin the claims process. A detailed list of your possessions is ideal. This list could include the description, brand, year purchased, and purchase price of the items in your home. Consider the electronics, furniture, clothing, accessories, and other things you own. If making a list is overwhelming, taking photos of each room and closet is another great way to create a record of your items. Be sure to save these photos or your list to a cloud storage platform and save them to a USB flash drive. Contact our team if you have any questions about how to protect your home and possessions before storm season.
Stay Aware and Informed About the Weather
Finally, springtime in Oklahoma is unpredictable. The weather can change in a minute! It’s essential to be well prepared by being aware of incoming storms. Keep a weather radio charged and turned on in a room where you can hear alerts. When in doubt, turn on the news meteorologist and be vigilant.
The Streller Agency team is made up of Oklahomans just like you. We know just how wild spring storm season in Oklahoma can be. Each year, we’re reminded of the importance of our work as we help our neighbors after tornados, floods, wildfires, and more. It would be our pleasure to partner with you to ensure you have the right insurance coverage for your property. Contact our team today.
