Much of the wind damage is not caused by the moving air but by things blown by the air. This is a good time to make sure none of those projectiles belong to you. Now is the time to secure shutters, gutters, wood piles and things that will remain outside during a storm. Make a checklist of things to take in when a hurricane watch is issued. Things like toys, garden tools, pet dishes, bird feeders, bird baths, flower pots, lawn furniture and even antennas can cause a lot of damage if they are blown against someone's house.
Smoke alarms are important all the time and especially during and after a storm.
Even if storms Alberto, Beryl, Chris and their friends don't head our way this year, we should test our smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms monthly. If you find that your smoke alarm doesn't work, even with a new battery, don't throw it away. Many of them contain a little radioactive material that should be disposed of properly. Look on your alarm for a phone number to call, or an address to send the spent alarm to for proper recycling.