Our local news channel, News 12, overdoes it quite a bit with their ”Storm Watch” reporting. We just shake our heads sometimes when the “storm” is about half an inch of rain with winds about 10 miles per hour.
But last August, we had a real one on the way. I’m talking torrential downpours and winds gusting up to 60 mph.
A few days before it hit, we were in my backyard with my sister, brother-in-law and their four kids. I was grilling burgers and dogs when I looked over to my right and saw the pine tree by my fence.
It used to be a twin peak, but it split during Superstorm Sandy and one of the peaks broke off. Amazingly, the way it fell, it didn’t do any damage to my house or the house next door where my sister lives. It missed their house by about two feet and missed crushing my fence by inches.
Last winter, that pine lost two huge branches when we got the heavy snow. Again, we lucked out and they just fell right in my backyard.
But what I was seeing now was making me very nervous. There was a monster branch about twenty-five feet up that was hanging over my roof. There’s not a chance in the world that it would miss the house if it went.
I turned the grill duties over to my brother-in-law Dave and went to the garage to get the chain saw. I had my nephew, Tristan, grab the big ladder and hold it for me. Then I took that branch down a piece at a time until it was gone.
After that, I really started thinking about what else I should be doing before this storm hits.
Clean The Gutters And Downspouts
When I was taking down that branch, I noticed that the top gutters were full. They weren’t overflowing, so you couldn’t really tell from the ground. And I had just cleaned them in the spring. Glad I noticed that.
I used to have a gutter cleaning business on the side and saw all kinds of damage that clogged gutters can do.
When the downspouts are clogged, the water has no place to go. Well, that’s not entirely true. During a heavy storm, the water will just run right over the gutters, dumping gallons of water right next to your foundation.
That’s what happened to one of my customers who didn’t return my call the year before. Storm after storm, the water would just flow right over because the gutters were never cleaned out.
Turns out, he got a flood in the basement, and it did thousands of dollars in damage. Luckily, he caught it early and didn’t get any black mold or it could have been a lot worse.
And in case you were wondering, he called me back right after that to have his gutters cleaned.
The water can also seep behind the gutters and rot out the fascia board behind it. Left long enough, it will start rotting out the wood in your walls as well.
I clean my gutters about five or six times in the fall because it seems like the leaves are falling later and later every year on Long Island. And also, I’ll do it once or twice in the spring.
But it’s on my checklist of things to look at before a storm hits.
Trim Dangerous Tree Limbs
That pine tree branch wasn’t the only widow-maker I’ve gotten rid of on my property.
A few years back, there was a dead oak tree branch hanging right above my driveway. It was only a matter of time before it came crashing down and I certainly didn’t want anyone, or anyone’s car, there when it did.
I don’t have this issue because my power lines are underground, but if you notice any branches that could potentially knock your power out for a while, call a professional and have it taken care of. Your neighbors will be happy you did.
I wouldn’t mess around with something like that myself.
Secure Outdoor Furniture
My iron patio table and chairs aren’t going anyway if strong winds come, but if you have plastic or light metal versions, you’ll want to put those away in the shed or wherever else you store them.
I generally don’t take any chances with my patio umbrella. Before a storm, it goes right in my shed. Most of my neighbors will just make sure theirs are down if it’s not supposed to be that bad, but why take the chance?
This one is funny, but not really. After a bad storm, I always see my neighbor Lee down the road retrieving his garbage pails. Do yourself a favor and put them in the garage or at least secure them to something solid with a bungee cord.
I keep my grill in the garage, but if you have yours outside, it’s probably a good idea to bring it in.
I also take down my bird feeders and bird baths. Probably overcautious most of the time but why buy new ones if you don’t have to.
Check Every Window And Door
This is something I do every few months or so, but I’m sure to do it when a particularly bad storm is on its way.
I walk through the house and check for cracked caulking, gaps around frames, and loose weather stripping. Anything where water could potentially get in.
It’s also a good way of finding drafts that are costing you money.
Check Your Roof
My neighbor Kevin must have at least fifteen shingles missing from his roof. I keep telling him to get them fixed and he says he’s going to. Well, guess who is going to get a leak.
I’ll take a look at my roof from the ground and from second story windows. I have some discoloration here and there, but overall, it looks OK.
If you notice any shingles missing, loose flashing or a sagging area, it’s time to call a roofer if you don’t have that skill set.
Test Those Flashlights And Batteries
Ages ago I thought I had all my ducks in a row in this area and it turned out I had not one, but two flashlights go dead on me when I needed them. And I was one C battery short of getting out of the dark.
Test The Sump Pump
I don’t have one, but my friend Rob does. His house is way below sea level, and he actually lost his last house because his sump pump stopped working during Superstorm Sandy.
Why he would buy another house in the same area is beyond me, but now he checks that thing almost on a weekly basis.
Walk The Property One Last Time
This is probably my favorite part of the checklist. Depending on what time of day it is, I’ll either grab a cup of coffee or a beer and make my rounds. I have a pretty big yard and it gives me a sense of peace.
Last year on one of my walks, I noticed a pretty big hole that Muffin, my dog, had dug right next to the foundation. That could have been a real problem.
So, I just grabbed the wheelbarrow and shovel, headed over the vegetable garden, got some soil, and filled it in.
Final Thoughts
Our grandparents didn’t have the luxury of a 48-hour heads-up that a storm was coming. I’m pretty glad we do and I try to make the most of it.
It lights a fire under me. There are branches I’ve noticed that should be cut and I keep saying I’ll get to it.
Well, when a bad storm is on the way, it’s time to get to it. Same goes for cleaning my gutters.
There’s probably not a worse feeling than knowing you could have prevented some serious damage to your home, or God forbid, to someone getting hurt.
It’s a self-inflicted wound that I try hard to avoid.
About the Author: Anthony Vion is a lifelong prepper from Long Island, NY, with decades of hands-on experience in self-reliance and practical skill-building. He writes about everyday prepping in a straightforward, realistic way, with a focus on simple steps that help families stay ready for the unexpected.
Every home and storm situation is different. The ideas in this article are based on my own experiences and are meant for general preparedness information only. Always use good judgment, follow local weather advisories, and leave repairs involving significant risk, electricity, power lines, or structural damage to qualified professionals.
