7 Tips to Prepare Your House for Hurricane Season

This article was first published on NerdWallet.com.

This year's Atlantic hurricane season might be one for the books. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts up to 13 hurricanes between June 1 and Nov. 30, with as many as seven reaching at least Category 3 status. If the prediction is accurate, this year will be one of the most active Atlantic hurricane seasons on record.

For coastal homeowners, this could mean home damage — even if they live inland.

“You can still see wind damage, even if you’re not experiencing those maximum winds,” says Sarah Dillingham, senior meteorologist at the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, which researches structure safety. With slower-moving storms, homeowners who live farther inland might have roof and soffit damage or lose some trees, Dillingham says.

Many homeowners who live in hurricane zones tend to wait until a storm is tracking toward them to get ready, but that can cause expensive mistakes.

“Being well-prepared for hurricane season is a process that takes time and thought,” says Mellanee Roberts, deputy emergency management coordinator for the City of Pearland in Texas, by email.

Here are seven tips to put you ahead of the weather.

1. Trim or remove trees near your home

“Homeowners should be sure to trim away any tree branches and landscaping that would hit the house in heavy wind,” Roberts said.

According to NOAA, a Category 1 hurricane (the weakest category) is strong enough to break large tree branches. When combined with rain-saturated soil, the winds can also uproot entire trees.

Branches that are weak or dead are the most vulnerable...