Chapter 9 of 17
Storm preparation
What to do before severe weather, and the one decision that is not about the building.
1 min read
Start with the decision that matters most and is not about maintenance: in high winds or a tornado warning, a manufactured home is not the place to be. Know now where your nearest shelter is, many communities designate one, and plan to leave early rather than deciding during the event. No amount of anchoring changes that advice.
Before a storm season begins: have the anchoring inspected, check the roof and its seals, trim overhanging branches, and secure or plan to remove anything outside that can become airborne, furniture, bins, awnings, carport panels, sheds.
Before a specific forecast event: bring in loose items, close and secure awnings if they are designed to be, photograph the home inside and out for insurance, and make sure your documents are somewhere you can reach them or already stored off-site.
Afterwards, inspect deliberately even if nothing looks wrong. Check the roof and its penetrations, the skirting, and, importantly, the anchoring, which can be loosened by wind loading without any visible damage above ground. Check the crawl space for water intrusion.
Photograph damage before touching anything, and contact your insurer before beginning repairs beyond what is needed to prevent further damage.
Key points
- In high winds, leave. Know your shelter location before the season starts.
- Anchoring inspected and loose items secured before the season, not the forecast.
- Photograph the home in advance, it is the evidence for a claim.
- Inspect anchoring afterwards even when nothing looks damaged.
Watch out
Wind loading can loosen anchors without leaving any sign you can see from outside. A post-storm inspection is worth it even after a storm that seemed to do nothing.