Tips to Preparing Your Home for Rainstorms

6 TIPS TO PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR RAINSTORMS PACIFIC OUTDOOR LIVING LANDICAPE DONA CONSTRICDON Four years into the worst drought recorded in history, rain is very much welcome in Southern California. However, due to El Nino's impact, experts warn that rains coming this winter through spring 2016 are likely to bring raging mudslides and floods. Torrential rainstorms can cause severe damage to properties. Get your home ready and keep your loved ones protected with the help of these tips. 1 FORTIFY ROOF Replacing your roof isn't always necessary. But, be sure to check for damaged areas that need to be repaired or sealed to keep water from entering your home. 2 INSPECT GUTTERS Gutters help direct water runoff away from your home. Ensure they're doing their job properly by keeping them clean. 3 CHECK WINDOWS AND DOORS Look into weatherstripping and caulking to keep rain and water out. Check as well for necessary repairs. CONSIDER INVESTING IN RAIN BARRELS Store rainwater coming off your roof for later use in your landscape, cleaning indoors or flushing the toilet. You can use rain barrels for this project or consider rainwater harvesting with permeable paving. 5 GET YOUR TREES CHECKED Downed trees can cause power outages and damages to your home. Consult a certified arborist whether you should have your trees trimmed and which areas to focus on. Make sure to hire only licensed contractors to get the job done. 6 SECURE OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES Cover, tie down, or store potted plants and outdoor furniture in covered areas for the meantime. Also, check if your fencing and other outdoor structures need further reinforcing. For more tips to getting your landscape ready for rain, go to www.pacificoutdoorliving.com. You can also visit the following sites for weather updates and more flood preparedness tips. Federal Emergency Management Agency www.fema.gov www.weather.gov ladbs.org/LADBSWEB/public-home.jsf National Weather Service Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety References: http://www.latimes.com/home/la-hm-el-nino-20151017-story.html http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article37743690.html http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Time-to-Start-Preparing-for-El-Nino-Officals-Urge-334450391.html http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/environment-and-nature/20150801/el-nino-be-prepared-for-anything http://www.sacbee.com/entertainment/living/home-garden/article38792577.html