Depending on where you live in the world, getting ready for storm season can mean something different. In some places, it’s all about those snow storms and hail storms. The temperatures drop dramatically below zero and the world feels icy and stiff. In other parts of the world, storm season means heavy rains, heatwaves and typhoons.
Regardless of where you’re living, you need to be ready to embrace the storms and ride them out as best you can. You need to maintain your home and think ahead, putting in the right plans to get through the storm with you and your house in one piece. Rather than deal with a Dorothy situation in the Wizard of Oz, you need to get prepped and be ready for those snowstorms or supercell rain storms, no matter where you’re reading this post from! Let’s dive right into how you can get prepared for a safe and healthy storm season.
1. Consider the risk of blackouts. There are so many people who forget that storms can down power lines, and they do it with ferocity. A downed power line can cause you to blackout and that means you need to plan ahead for generator installation now and not wait. You don't want to think about being stuck in the dark with no power backup if your local power lines end up across the highway. If you don't know your blackout risk, chat to your local electrical provider and your local fire department. They’ll be able to guide you as to whether you are going to need any additional help beyond a generator or two.
2. Sort out your greenery. Low hanging trees? That’s a no-no in a storm if you want to avoid smashed windows and broken gutters. Tree branches that hang low over your guttering or even drape over the roof can be a flying hazard in a storm. It’s best to avoid these if possible by having these trees and long branches cut right back before the storms settle in. you want to make sure that the structure of your roof has integrity, and you don't want it caving in or a strong tree limb ripping it off.
3. Clean out those gutters. Speaking of broken guttering, if you’re about to have snowstorms and freezing temperatures, the best thing to do is get the local roofing company to come in and clean out your gutters and downpipes. You’ll find that a build up of leafy debris can cause gutters to block up and water to back up over your roof. That can lead to frozen pipes, water leaks and a roof that no longer holds up under the weight of the rainfall.
3. Speak to the roofing experts. When was the last time you had your roof inspected by an expert? Broken roof tiles, rusty flashings and broken gutters are all things that are easily missed if you aren't up on the roof looking at it yourself. Getting a roofing company in to inspect it for you is the best thing to do to avoid shimmying up ladders. Book in a licensed plumber to do it and you’ll have any possible issues fixed before the roof is ripped up by wind!
4. Stash away the outdoor furniture. Even if you’re not expecting a hurricane, you should secure your backyard or outdoor furniture. Putting everything into a closed shed or a basement is a good idea. You can put any BBQs or larger items secured with a chain into the ground or around the pillars if your house has them. You need to make sure that wind or rain won’t ruin anything unsecure, and you won’t have anything whipping around in the wind!
6. Turn off the power. When you’re under a storm, you need to make sure that you turn off your water, gas and power. Obviously, you don't want to do this if a storm is only threatened, but you do need to know where to turn off these utilities before a storm hits so that you don't have to panic about any electrical issues or flooding. Locating these switches is important and you should make a point of learning where they are so that you can get ahead.
7. Pack a couple of emergency kits. You should always have an emergency kit handy and this should be in the car but also in the house. It should have enough water for three days, a first aid kit, a battery powered torch and radio (with plenty of spare batteries!), any important documents, spare change of clothes, chargers and even non-perishable food items for a couple of days. If you have kids, don't forget some entertainment options, power banks for phones and even insect repellant.
8. Keep an emergency repair kit handy. Having a spare emergency repair kit in both emergency bags is a must. It should be packed with tarps, duct tape, a Stanley knife, sandbags and even a hammer and rope. Emergency repairs should never be done unless you have to do something or you’re in a situation where you have no choice. Ideally, you want to choose an emergency first response!
9. Sign up to weather alerts. As they say, forewarned is forearmed and you can be forewarned if you sign up to weather alerts in advance. Being aware of the storms that could be coming to your area will make a big difference to your readiness. Looking at the sky is one thing but watching the radar is another!
10. Make sure that you invested in storm cover for your contents insurance. Home and contents insurance is an absolute must, but you need Peace of Mind with it. Storms actually can account for some of the highest home insurance claims, so you need to have the highest level of cover. Of course, being prepared doesn't guarantee that your home won't be affected during storm season, as these can be unpredictable, But if you have the right insurance in place, at least you might be able to claw back some money if you lose out.
*contributed post*
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