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Lightning/hail: protect your home |
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Thunderstorms can cause considerable damage to your home. Hail can shred roofing materials and lead to water damage in your ceilings, walls, floors, appliances and personal possessions. Lightning can start fires or destroy valuable electric and electronic equipment.
Inside your home
Windows are vulnerable to hail damage. Large stones and strong winds can combine to do considerable damage.
 Windows covered with protective film will prevent glass from shattering if they are broken. Large hailstones and strong winds can cause glass to shatter, but the film can keep the shattered glass from being hurled into your home.
Surge arrestors and suppressors can protect your electric and electronic equipment should lightning strike power lines.
The home itself
Impact-resistant roof coverings and lightning protection systems can save trouble and money. Most roofing jobs are not for the do-it-yourselfer, so consider hiring a professional roofing contractor next time you replace your roof. Also, check with your local building officials to be sure what you are doing complies with local building codes.
When you next replace your roof covering, consider using slate, heavy-duty asphalt or other types of shingles that will not crack when hit twice in the same area. In the United States such shingles are rated "Class 4". Some roof coverings, particularly some made of metal, may test well for crack resistance but can be dented.
If you have siding on your home, consider using materials resistant to hail damage when you next replace the siding.
In an area of frequent lightning strikes, consider investing in electrical surge protection and a certified lightning protection system of lightning rods, conductors and ground terminals.
Outside your home
It is important that you shelter vehicles and other valuable property.
Move your vehicles and other valuable property into shelter when you are warned that a thunderstorm may strike.
Landscape with shredded bark rather than more dangerous material such as gravel or rock.
Remove weak branches and trees that could fall on your house.
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