Now that hurricane season is officially here, and the first one of the season has barreled through, it's time to prepare for the next ones. Even if your home didn't sustain damage this time around, there's no guarantee that you'll be as lucky with the next one. That's why it's crucial that you take the necessary steps to prepare your home in advance. The steps you take now could prevent significant damage when the next hurricane comes through. Here are three important steps you should take to protect your home now that hurricane season is in full-swing.

Upgrade Your Windows and Doors

When it comes to protecting your home from hurricane damage, it's important to remember that your windows and doors are the most vulnerable, especially if they haven't been upgraded in a while. If your doors and windows are outdated, one good gust of wind from a hurricane could send them crashing in on your home. To prevent that from happening, talk to a window contractor about door and window replacement, including the installation of storm shutters on all your windows, and storm doors, which are reinforced doors installed on the exterior of your existing doors.

Invest in Storm Panels

If you live in hurricane territory, you need to invest in storm panels. Storm panels provide reinforced protection for your home and can be installed in a matter of minutes. There are several different types of storm panels, including metal, plastic, and synthetic PVC fiber. One of the benefits of choosing plastic or synthetic PVC fiber panels is that you'll still be able to see out your windows once they're in place. Storm panels are good to have for your home even if you've installed storm windows. The additional protection will secure your home during even the worst hurricanes.

Retrofit Your Garage Door

You might not realize this, but if your garage door isn't retrofitted, it could be the cause of significant damage the next time a hurricane comes through. Without proper protection, garage doors can be blown open during a hurricane. When that happens, the force behind the wind can build up inside your garage causing the roof to blow off your home, and the walls to collapse. To prevent that from happening, you should have a hurricane brace installed on your garage door. In the event of a hurricane, you can engage the brace, which will hold your garage door securely in place.