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El Niño Home Prep: Roof, Gutters, Drainage
The roof, drain and yard jobs to finish before the rain, plus a flood policy that usually takes 30 days to start.
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Thirty days. That's the usual waiting period on a new National Flood Insurance Program policy, so coverage bought once a storm is on the radar may not help with that storm. StormBag's timeline puts most of the rest, from roof to gutters to papers, in the same bracket: cheaper and less stressful when done in advance. This list covers the house and yard, plus a short reminder about the car. It leaves out go bags and full supply kits. Work through it while the weather is dry and stop where your own property doesn't apply.
Why these items are on the list
- Register for emergency alerts. Sign up your cell phone for local emergency notifications before the first storm, not during it.
- Check roof, especially flashing. Many leaks occur around flashing, so check there closely.
- Book a roof inspection. Terry Heller, owner of Preferred Roofing, suggests one if the roof has leaked before or is more than 12 years old.
- Clear gutters and downspouts. Clear the downspouts too, and do the job while the weather's still dry.
- Extend downspouts at least 4 feet. StormBag says at least 4 feet from the foundation.
- Clear culverts and yard drains. If you switched to drought-tolerant landscaping, your drainage patterns may have changed.
- Test drains with a garden hose. In most cases water going in should come out at the curb.
- Check grading around walls. Water should run away from the walls, not toward them.
- Check window glazing and trim paint. Paint is a barrier against water intrusion, and leaky glazing may need redoing.
- Stock sandbags and plastic sheeting. Keep them dry and easy to reach. Straw tubes or bags of dirt can also divert water.
- Place sandbags in rows. A USC landscape architect calls them a last resort; stack them outside the opening, the bags don't need to be tied together.
- If you have concerns about a tree, call an arborist. Arborist Alison Lancaster says consultants and contractors get booked up around this time of year, so call early.
- Remove dead palm fronds. Have a professional do it; fronds blow off in high winds and can land on power lines.
- Secure yard furniture. Anything that might blow away in a storm can cause damage.
- Turn off automatic watering. Switch it off for the rainy season.
- Secure fertilizer and paint cans. Fertilizer bags and open paint cans can wash into storm drains, which flow to the ocean untreated.
- Test or add a sump pump. Worth considering for below-ground basements or garages; if you already have one, make sure it works.
- Scan important documents. Keep copies on a flash drive or in the cloud, and store the drive somewhere safe.
- Photograph or film your belongings. A record of what you own helps with insurance claims later.
- Get a flood insurance quote. United Policyholders' Amy Bach says many skip it away from water, as more areas become vulnerable.
- Read your home policy's water terms. United Policyholders says many insurers have cut water-damage coverage or capped payouts. Know your deductible.
- Check tires, wipers, lights, brakes. Replace worn tires and wipers now rather than in the middle of a storm.
Work through it yard by yard, and share it with whoever's helping so nobody repeats a job.
When to use it
Use it in the weeks before the rainy season starts, while the ground is still dry.