How to prepare your home for storm season

Meteorologists must be feeling a lot of job security these days, given the winter that never seemed to end and the summer-like storms and tornadoes appearing throughout the Midwest this spring.
Meanwhile, for the Atlantic coast, hurricane season begins June 1, and NASA satellites and ocean sensors are suggesting we might be in for a formidable El Niño. That means the water in the central and eastern Pacific could be warmer than normal, which could bring about more extreme storms.

If you're worried that your house or condo isn't prepared for a pounding, here are some steps you can take to prepare.

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Pretend a storm is coming now. That is, don't wait until you hear a hurricane, tornado or thunderstorm of the century is coming. Maria LaRosa, a meteorologist who co-hosts "AMHQ with Sam Champion" on The Weather Channel, thinks about storms day and night and says she always feels bad when she sees people standing in line, waiting for batteries and gas for the generator.

"Those are things you can take care of beforehand, so you don't have to be scrambling at the last minute. Don't be that person," she advises.

[Read: Are You Financially Prepared for a Hurricane?]

Sabine Schoenberg, a home improvement blogger at sabineshome.com who lives in Greenwich, Connecticut, agrees. "You don’t want to get caught up in the long lines at the grocery store," she says. "Dedicate a section in your pantry or pantry cabinet for water, freeze-dried and canned food for storm emergencies." She advises storing three days' worth of food.

Schoenberg also suggests having a generator ready. "They're the new must-haves," she says.

LaRosa has one that’s big enough to run a refrigerator and plug in a few things. “It isn't a mega one that would run the whole house, but it's one we feel comfortable having," she says. "So that's probably what I'd recommend – take stock of what you think you would need if you didn't have electricity for a few days. You might want one for your sump pump, for instance, so your basement stays dry."

This is also a great time to check in with your insurance adjuster if you haven't thought about your homeowners insurance for some time.

"Before a disaster strikes is the time to sit down with your insurance agent to be certain you are properly insured," says Greg Raab, operations director for Adjusters International, a public adjusting and disaster recovery company headquartered in Utica, New York. If you live in an area that has hurricanes and floods, he stresses the importance of getting insurance that will protect you.

[Is your home properly insured? Click to compare coverage options and quotes now.]

Raab adds that standard homeowners policies don't include flood insurance. “Though limited in what it covers, flood insurance is provided through the National Flood Insurance Program and works differently from standard homeowners coverage,” he says.