Storm Prep Checklist

Prepare your Fox Valley home before storm season peaks with this essential checklist:

✅ Get a professional roof inspection

✅ Clear debris from gutters and downspouts

✅ Trim overhanging tree branches

✅ Check window seals for gaps

✅ Review your insurance policy

✅ Secure loose outdoor items

Storm Prep Checklist for Illinois Homeowners

Illinois sees heavy rain, hail, high winds, and even tornadoes, so a simple checklist makes it easier to get ready before the next warning. Focusing on your roof, siding, and gutters helps protect both your home and the people inside.

Exterior Checks Before Storm Season

• Inspect your roof from the ground for missing shingles, sagging areas, or damaged flashing, and schedule repairs early.

• Make sure gutters and downspouts are clear and firmly attached, so water flows away from your foundation.

• Look for cracks, gaps, or loose panels in your siding and around windows and doors where wind-driven rain can get in.

• Secure outdoor items like patio furniture, grills, and decorations so they don't become wind-blown projectiles.

What to Prepare Inside

• Put together a basic emergency kit with flashlights, batteries, water, non-perishable food, first-aid supplies, and necessary medications.

• Store important documents, photos, and insurance information in a safe, dry place that you can access quickly.

• Make a simple family plan: where to shelter during high winds, how to contact each other, and what to do if power is out.

Right Before a Storm Arrives

• Move vehicles into a garage or away from large trees when possible.

• Close windows and secure window wells and basement window covers.

• Double-check that sump pumps are working in areas prone to heavy rain and flooding.

Need help getting your home storm-ready? Call Velasquez Enterprises Inc. for a free exterior inspection in Aurora, Chicago, and surrounding areas.