Protecting Your Property from Tornado Damage
Barrett Dick • May 17, 2023
Not only are tornadoes frightening severe weather events, they can cause significant damage to homes and businesses as well. Across the Gulf South, these cyclones have been occurring with increasing frequency, leaving property owners vulnerable to their ravages. Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to protect both yourself and your property. Here are some tips to help protect your home or business from a tornado:
- Identify Safe Areas: Identify safe areas in your home or business where you can take shelter during a tornado. These areas should be on the lowest level, away from windows and exterior walls, and preferably in an interior room or hallway.
- Have a Plan: Have a plan in place for what to do in the event of a tornado. Make sure everyone in your household or business knows the plan and practices it regularly. Include a designated meeting place and a communication plan in case family members or employees become separated.
- Install reinforced doors and windows: Installing doors and windows that are designed to withstand high winds and debris is a proactive measure that can be taken now to grant peace of mind later. These reinforced structures can help protect your home or business from many of the damaging effects of tornadoes. In an emergency, plywood may also be used for quick reinforcement.
- Secure outdoor items: When the threat of a tornado is near, remove or secure any outdoor items that could become airborne, such as lawn furniture or trash cans. These items can become dangerous projectiles and cause damage to your property or the property of others.
- Reinforce your roof: Consider installing hurricane straps or other reinforcements to help keep your roof in place during high winds. Roof damage is among the most common and costly repairs for many properties following strong storms.
- Stay informed: Stay informed of the weather conditions by regularly checking the local weather forecast and emergency alerts. You can also download a weather app that provides alerts for severe weather conditions. Knowing when a tornado is possible will allow you to prepare, secure your property, and take shelter.
- Review Insurance Coverage: Review your insurance coverage to ensure you have adequate protection in case of tornado damage. Consider adding flood insurance, as tornadoes can cause significant flooding.
- Plan for Disaster: Pre-planning services like those offered by Guarantee Restoration ensure that businesses are prepared with documentation of their building and contents and a detailed action plan that can begin the moment disaster strikes.
Preparing your home or business in the Gulf South for a tornado requires proactive steps to minimize damage and protect your safety. Remember, safety should always be your first priority. Be sure to follow all recommended procedures and seek shelter immediately if a tornado is approaching, and in the event that your home or business does suffer damage from a tornado, contact the restoration professionals at Guarantee to quickly return it to its pre-loss condition.
Saying Hi to July! The summer is here—and so is the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season. No matter what it brings, you can be assured that our team at Guarantee Restoration Services will be there when you need us most. Meet the Team: Marcela Argueta Every month, I have the opportunity to showcase our many awesome team members. For July, we are shining the spotlight on Marcela Argueta , who serves as a Lead Technician at our New Orleans location. She was promoted to that position in January 2025 . From Honduras to GRS Marcela was born and raised in La Ceiba, Honduras , also known as “la novia de Honduras” —which translates to “the bride of Honduras.” She moved to the U.S. in December 2016 after earning her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras . Marcela is currently approved and ready to take her exam to become a registered nurse in the U.S. Before joining our team in August 2022 , she worked as both a nurse and a homemaker . Life Outside of Work Marcela is a proud mother of two—her son, Sebastian (15) and daughter, Eleanor (5) . When she’s not working, she loves spending quality time with her children and extended family. Fun fact: her half-sister, Brenda , also works at GRS in our Baton Rouge office! One of Marcela’s favorite pastimes is going for walks in the park. She says she often uses this time to meditate and reflect—thinking about what she’s done well and what she could improve.
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