(StatePoint) Most homeowners feel reasonably ready for storms this time of year. In a new national survey, the T-Rex Tape Storm Readiness Report, more than half (63%) confidently rate their home’s preparedness for storms a 7 out of 10 or higher. While Americans are close to storm-ready, the research suggests the real test comes after severe weather strikes.
“We wanted to look past the checklist people already know and understand readiness once storm damage actually happens,” Kerry Haugh, director of Product Marketing for T-Rex Brand, says. “Forty-eight percent have tested batteries for emergency devices and 45% trimmed trees around their home. Preparing and protecting homes is top of mind. What we found though is there’s a gap between preparedness and readiness.”
The Missing Repair Step
Eight in 10 Americans have experienced unexpected home damage that required a repair, and nearly half (43%) say it’s happening more often compared to five years ago, citing aging homes and severe weather as the top reasons. Yet only 30% say they have organized their repair tools as part of their storm preparation, and just 51% say emergency storm supplies would be easy to find.
The Fix-It-Fast Instinct
Most feel confident tackling storm-related repairs themselves: 58% are comfortable sealing a small leak to keep water out, and 46% are comfortable securing a broken window or door. There’s also an instinct to respond quickly: More than half fix storm damage within 24 hours of noticing it. On the other hand, a third say damage has grown larger or more expensive at some point simply because they waited too long to address it.
When asked what delays a repair, cost and the need to hire a professional rank highest, but 24% point to not having the right supplies and 20% cite not having the right tools.
Reaching for the Wrong Tool
Fifty-nine percent of Americans are aware that, unlike traditional duct tape, repair tape is designed for heavy-duty repairs, like patching, sealing and waterproofing. They also have specific standards for what it should do: 59% expect repair tape to keep water out, and 56% expect it to hold through the rain.
What’s surprising is that while duct tape is stocked in 69% of emergency storm kits, waterproof repair tape, built for extreme weather conditions, is included in only 37%. When storm damage strikes, 75% of Americans have used duct tape because it was the only tool available and 63% reached for it during storm-related repairs, more than any other option they had handy.
A Tape Made for the Moment
This repair gap is the idea behind T-Rex Brand’s evolution of tape: Unexpected repairs are on the rise, so the tape built to handle them had to change. T-Rex Ferociously Strong Waterproof and Repair Tape is a versatile, fix-all for any environment. Its Flex-to-Fit Technology and a solventless UV acrylic adhesive grip wet, rough surfaces, like concrete, metal and wood, seal out water, air and moisture, and even work under water. The tape has a strong hold in extreme temperatures until a permanent repair is possible.
“Americans can be closer to storm-ready by making a few simple changes to how they prepare, like having the right supplies within reach,” Haugh says. “Peak storm season is a good reminder that being ready is also about being resourceful when the unexpected happens.”
