6 ways to prepare your patio and pool for a hurricane

Ways to prepare your patio and pool ahead of a hurricane or big storm.
Ways to prepare your patio and pool ahead of a hurricane or big storm.

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Florida residents are scrambling to prepare for Hurricane Ian, which made landfall on Cuba’s western tip on Tuesday and is expected to reach the states as early as Wednesday. The hurricane is said to be undergoing rapid intensification thanks to its surrounding environment. When it makes landfall in Florida, it may be strengthened to a category 4 hurricane, which is associated with catastrophic damage such as long-lasting power outages and deadly storm surges.

If you’re preparing for a storm, it’s important to not only stock up on supplies to use as you shelter in place but to also secure your property. Outdoor patio and deck items can become severely damaged or even lost during a storm. Worse yet, thanks to the intense winds, they can also become dangerous projectiles that can damage your home or injure others.

Before the next storm hits, be it Hurricane Ian or a new storm, there’s plenty you can do to clean up and secure your patio space, your pool and more. Here are six things to do to prepare the outside of your home for the next hurricane or tropical storm.

Hurricane Ian:  Slams Cuba as a Category 3 storm, Florida braces for 'historic' storm surge: Live updates

1. Secure your patio furniture and other loose items

During a hurricane, nearly anything can become a projectile when winds pick up, becoming a potential hazard to life and property. Before the hurricane hits, the CDC recommends bringing all of your patio furniture indoors, along with your trash cans, bikes, and even stray wood pieces or bricks. It's important to note that Ready.gov, a national public service campaign, says that items like gas grills and propane tanks, should not be brought indoors—rather, they should be anchored outdoors.

If you've been through a few hurricanes, you may be aware of the "trick" of tossing your patio furniture into the pool to anchor it down when strong winds strike. Unless you absolutely do not have room to store your furniture inside your home, in your garage or a shed, pool service experts recommend against this—your furniture can easily rust and damage the bottom of your pool.

2. Make room in your garage or shed before the storm

Make smart usage of your garage space with overhead storage.
Make smart usage of your garage space with overhead storage.

You might be asking yourself, "How am I supposed to fit everything inside?". This is a fair question, and why preparing ahead of the hurricane is crucial. Before a hurricane is even forecasted, work on organizing your garage or shed to ensure that you'll have plenty of space to store all of your patio furniture and other miscellaneous items.

Reviewed's home editor, Rachel Murphy, recommends taking a proactive approach by organizing your garage now. She planned to add overhead storage racks and adjustable shelving to her 250-square-foot-garage, helping her to avoid a game of patio-furniture Tetris before a hurricane rolls through.

If you don't have a garage or enough space, it's fine to bring patio furniture into your house—as a born-and-raised Floridian, this is exactly what my family would do since we didn't have a shed and little to no room in our garage.

3. Trim trees well ahead of time

Weaker tree limbs can break with heavy winds or rain, making them potential projectiles that can damage your property or injure someone. Ready.gov recommends trimming trees and shrubs—try using a lopper to create precision cuts on tree limbs or a pole saw for tall, hard-to-reach pieces.

Be sure to practice caution if you’re not experienced in pruning larger trees and consider calling an arborist if the job is too extensive or dangerous. And don't wait until the last minute to trim your trees—If a storm is approaching landfall, focus on ensuring you and your family are safe and secure inside.

4. Protect your plants and backyard garden

Keep your vegetable garden and landscaping safe when heavy rain and wind arrive.
Keep your vegetable garden and landscaping safe when heavy rain and wind arrive.

Hurricanes and tropical storms are notorious for bringing both heavy rainfall and gusty winds, which can both damage your landscaping and garden. To protect your plants—especially young seedlings—Farmers' Almanac recommends covering them with a fabric layer that's secured at the edges. This top-rated plant cover is a solid barrier to protect your plants from wind, sleet, frost and snow, making it a go-to product for cold snaps as well.

Excessive rainfall can also damage your soil, potentially promoting the growth of plant diseases. You can also add a thin layer of mulch, such as bark chips or straw, that can help soak up excess water and protect your soil from prolonged rainfall or flooding.

5. Clear your gutters and downspouts

Clogged gutters can be problematic for the home, regardless of the weather. Gutters filled with debris like leaves, twigs and other buildup can block rainwater, forcing it to overflow and seep into a home's foundation and the walls of your basement. When a major storm rolls through you could have major flooding on your hands.

That's why it's important to deep clean your gutters and downspouts every six months or so—or right before hurricane season. FEMA recommends cleaning gutters and downspouts as part of your preparation. Reviewed has a guide on how to properly (and safely) clean your gutters with what tools you'll need to get started and how to keep your gutters protected from future debris.

6. Adjust your pool's water level, but don't drain it

If you haven't noticed already, flooding can wreak havoc on multiple parts of your property. If you own a swimming pool or hot tub, you may think a pool cover can help ward off flooding—but pool service experts don't recommend this, because the cover becomes another heavy, unsecured object.

Instead, The National Weather Service recommends lowering your pool's water level by one foot—you may need to use a drain pump to remove the water. If you're not sure how to approach this, consult a pool service ahead of time.

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This article originally appeared on Reviewed: Hurricane Ian: How to prepare your patio and pool for a hurricane