Preparing Your Home and Yacht for a Hurricane

Boca Raton boasts stunning homes on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, making yacht and boating accommodations readily available to homeowners and vacationers alike. Neighborhoods like Por La Mar, Boca Raton Riviera, and the Yacht and Racquet Club attract hundreds of people to South Florida every year and it's no wonder why - Florida residents get to soak up the sun year-round, both on land and out on the water. 

While the palm tree-lined shores provide an essence that summer is here each week of the year, from June to November, hurricane season is in full swing. South Florida homes, offices and other structures are built with hurricane protections in mind, however, and the region is one of the most well-prepared in the country for tough storms like this month's Hurricane Joaquin.  Here are some tips on how to keep your home and yacht safe from the elements. 

Home Reinforcement Tips from the Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management:

• Check metal and wood support columns on patios for rust and wood decay. 
• Check the anchoring of the air-conditioning compressor to see if it feels loose.
• Check tie beam for crumbling concrete and rusted steel rods. 
• Look for cracks in your exterior walls as well as the foundation. Cracks are caused by shifts in the ground below the house, typically caused by rotting vegetation. Cracks less than one-half inch wide are common in walls and do not mean that the wall is weak. (Only wide cracks indicate a problem.) 
• Replace old or damaged garage doors with a stronger model. Replace old or damaged doors with stronger ones. For doubled-sided entry doors, add a heavy- duty dead bolt or replace the existing dead bolt with a stronger one. 
• Anchor storage sheds and other outbuildings to a permanent foundation or with straps and ground anchors.
• Keep your property clear of debris and other items that can become wind-borne missiles. 
• Check for loose rain gutters and moldings. 
• Check in your attic for diagonal 2-by-4s between the gable end and the roofing trusses. Gable-end bracing in an ‘X’ pattern makes the roof stronger.
  You should also have truss bracing running the length of the roof. Install it if you don’t have it.

Source: The Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management
Hurricane Preparedness for Boat Owners from the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences' Disaster Handbook:
Prior to the Hurricane Season:
Develop a detailed plan of action to secure your vessel in the marina, if permitted, to remove your boat from the threatened area, or to take your boat to a previously identified hurricane refuge. Specifically identify and assemble needed equipment and supplies. Hurricane moorings should be located in advance. Permission should be obtained from appropriate persons. For keel boats, make certain there is enough water at low tide. A practice run should be made to check accessibility, depth of water, bridges, location of aids and/or obstructions to navigation and locations to secure lines or drop anchors. According to a Florida statute beginning in 1993, drawbridges will not open for boats during evacuation procedures.
Prior to the Hurricane :
If your plan calls for moving your vessel, move it at least 48 to 72 hours before the hurricane is estimated to strike the area. This may be before a hurricane watch is issued. Make sure that: 

• Fuel tanks are full.
• Fuel filters are clean.
• Batteries are charged.
• Bilges are clean.
• Cockpit drains are free and clear. 
• Fire fighting equipment is in good order.
• Lifesaving equipment is in good condition, in place and readily accessible (these items will be secured later).
• Remove and/or secure all deck gear, portable gear, radio antennas, outriggers, fighting chairs, deck boxes, bimini tops and side canvas/curtains, sails, booms, dorades, extra halyards, canister rafts, and dinghies. Make sure that you secure all hatches, ports, doors, lazarettes and sailboat rudders. 

Source: The Disaster Handbook - National Edition. IFAS University of Florida  

If you’re looking to own or sell your luxury home, rely on the experience of Jean-Luc Andriot and his team of professional realtors at Keller Williams. Call Jean-Luc today at 561-213-9008. He and his staff specialize in luxury properties, including luxury condominiums in Boca Raton, Highland Beach, Delray Beach, Gulf Stream, Ocean Ridge and more.