…..’Tis The Season, Ya’ Ready?
The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1st through November 30th, putting the peak of the season typically, around mid-September. This year, forecasters from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) have predicted between 5 to 9 hurricanes with 2 to 3 of those becoming major hurricanes. Fortunately, this year’s hurricane season has been a quiet one, so far! But what if it wasn’t? Are you and your family as prepared as you’d like to be for those 5 months out of the year, living on the Gulf Coast? Is your home prepared?
As we head towards the latter part of the 2025 Hurricane Season, there are several key takeaways that we can collectively consider. First and foremost, we can acknowledge and pay tribute to our neighbors and loved ones who were unfortunately impacted by Hurricane Katrina. This cataclysmic event has forever changed the way in which the people of our region prepare for and respond to the threat of a significant storm in the Gulf. This year, being the 20th anniversary of Katrina, we can look back at not only the devastation it caused but focus more on the resiliency that we’ve gained and lessons that we’ve learned, both as individuals as well as a “coastal community.” Collectively, our State is in the best position it has ever been in with regards to coastal flood protection. Our Parishes and Cities have made significant improvements upon storm drainage as well as flood diversion systems, upgrading Louisiana’s ability to contend with tidal surge and potential flood waters caused by a category 5 hurricane. Similarly, advancements in both residential building materials and installation methods have since provided individual homeowners with a much greater opportunity to have their homes better protected during this type of an extreme weather event.
Are you prepared?
While it has been 10 years since the Gulf Coast experienced a hurricane season without an actual hurricane, we’re all well aware that this is not the norm. So here are some examples of things that you can do to effectively prepare your family as well as your home, to be better equipped to deal with the next storm threat in the Gulf.
Your home’s outermost protective layer is its roof. This cover system is a collection of components that work together to protect the home from wind, rain and inclement weather, like you’d experience during a hurricane. Choosing the right roofing materials for your house and its location, as well as having them installed properly is the first step in protecting your family’s home. Utilizing materials like impact-resistant shingles coupled with a sealed roof deck will greatly reinforce your roof and enhance its ability to withstand extreme weather events. H2H Roofing has knowledgeable and experienced team members who would be happy to help guide you through any questions you may have about selecting the appropriate materials for your roof.
The gold standard for roof cover systems is a Fortified Roof. This combination of higher quality materials along with above industry standard installation techniques have been tested and proven to significantly lessen the damage a roof and in effect a home experiences during an extreme weather event. H2H Roofing is certified by the IBHS (Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety) to install Fortified Roofs, and we’d be happy to schedule a complimentary inspection and or consultation to discuss your options. Homes that have had Fortified Roofs and other higher quality materials/installation have been proven to lessen the damage incurred by the roof and the entire home during both testing and real-world applications.
Additionally, the resiliency to your home is only part of the potential benefits to reinvesting in your home by using higher quality building materials and techniques. Louisiana is a state that offers tax incentives for homeowners who have a Fortified designation. Likewise, most if not all home insurance carriers apply discounts to a homeowner’s premium when they have a Fortified designation, knowing this home will likely receive less damage during an extreme weather event.
Now that we’ve touched on some ways to strengthen our homes, let’s talk about what it looks like to maintain them from season to season. Things like cleaning your gutters, trimming back tree limbs from your home’s exterior and regularly scheduled roof inspections are also highly recommended. Choosing a local, licensed roofer to perform a roof inspection on your home will not only provide you with the documentation necessary for a possible insurance claim but it will also allow for any action necessary to be taken before a small issue becomes a big one.
H2H Roofing performs complimentary, detailed and thorough property/roof inspections. We procure digital documentation on the condition of everything from your personal property and landscaping to your siding and gutters, while focusing on in depth, to the current form and function of your roofing system. This allows us to not only report and consult with you if and when a potential repair or replacement is necessary but also the ability for you to provide that information to your insurance carrier, should you decide to open a claim. If no damage is discovered, we would be more than happy to report that to you and provide that supporting documentation as well for your records. Our hope is that our community, friends, and neighbors will continue to ride the wave of good luck we’ve experienced this year as it relates to damaging storms. However, we know how important it is to have a local professional that you can count on to assist you in picking up the pieces after a disaster.
H2H prides itself on being open and honest with our customers. We also believe that educating our community and allowing them to make the right decisions for themselves and their families is sometimes the most important part of what we do. Whatever your roofing needs may be from one season to the next, H2H Roofing is Here To Help!
~ H2H Team
“Let’s Roof!”