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Are You Prepared For The Next Hurricane?

August 18th, 2009 by Matthew C. Keegan | 4 Comments | Filed in Consumer Tips

All eyes are on the tropics as the first group of named storms crop up, with one or more poised to make landfall over the coming days. For people who live in the vicinity of the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, having a plan in place now can help avoid panicked preparation later. Even if you’re hundreds, perhaps thousands of miles away from the coast, the residual affects of a hurricane can impact you in the form of heavy rains, consumer goods shortages and nationwide flight delays.

Let’s take a look at some commonsensible preparation tips to help protect you and your loved ones:

Recharge Cell Phones – Many people rely on cell phones to keep in contact, which can be a problem when the power is out. Traditional land-line phone service is much more durable and can stay active during a hurricane while a cell tower could be knocked out, rendering your phone useless for days. In any event, prior to the storm hitting your area, make certain that your cell phone(s) are fully recharged and ready to go. Consider purchasing an extra battery to have on hand and limit your calls to preserve battery power.

Plan Your Evacuation – The more powerful the storm, the more likely you’ll need to evacuate in advance of the storm’s arrival. Listen to local reports, heed evacuation warnings. Make a plan to get to a specific destination, outlining two or three routes. A navigation unit can help you make “shift on the fly” changes. Make certain that your fuel tank is topped off and consider carrying a five gallon fuel container just in case.

Bring Along Cash – With power outages, bank teller machines are useless. Whether you’re leaving town or boarding up and staying put, you’ll want to have cash on hand. Get plenty of one and five dollar bills and bring along some change. Don’t expect anyone to be able to break larger bills; stash your cash in a safe place.

Stock Up Provisions – Have enough food on hand for at least three to four days; longer if the storm appears to be more powerful than a tropical storm or weak hurricane. Expect that food will quickly spoil, so be prepared to cook up what you need and consume it as soon as possible. Make certain that you have plenty of drinking water on hand, that all prescription medicines are filled and that your pets have food too (have a plan for you pets, too, if they can’t evacuate with you). Restock your emergency kit. Purchase dry ice and regular ice too.

Secure Your Home – Whatever isn’t tied down outside should be put away. Even in a moderate storm, most sheds will blow away, therefore reinforce your out buildings and bring other items inside. Board up your windows especially if you’re in line for a direct hit; tape offers only minimum protection. Lock all doors including your garage and patio doors; if time permits reinforce the roofing with hurricane straps.

If you are planning to evacuate and/or your neighbors are leaving, jot down each others phone numbers to stay in touch. Likely, you’ll be going in different directions which means that the first person to return to the neighborhood can apprise the others of the damage incurred and share other tips to help make returning a safe process.

As always, stay tuned in to the National Weather Service; your car radio can be helpful but use a weather radio too as a backup.

Further Reading:

Hurricane Season & Your Cell Phone

As Hurricane Season Approaches, Food Storage Planning Takes Precedence

Hurricane Recovery: Taking Action!

Hurricane Coming? Get Prepared!


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As Hurricane Season Approaches, Food Storage Planning Takes Precedence

May 14th, 2009 by Matthew C. Keegan | 6 Comments | Filed in Consumer Tips, Home Tips
Like this Texas house which was battered by Hurricane Ike in 2008, your home could be at risk to winds, flood waters, debris and other problems. Having a plan in place before hurricane season officially starts (June 1st) can go a long way to ensure the safety of you and your loved ones.

Like this Texas house which was battered by Hurricane Ike in 2008, your home could be at risk to winds, flood waters, debris and other problems. Having a plan in place before hurricane season officially starts (June 1st) can go a long way to ensure the safety of you and your loved ones.

Have you ever lived through a major hurricane? I have. Twenty years ago Hurricane Hugo slammed ashore all across the South Carolina lowcountry coast, wrecking havoc everywhere. Our home was without electricity for four days while some isolated rural areas of the state went without power for six weeks.

Getting Ready For Hurricane Season

Preparation for a storm of this magnitude usually means boarding up your home and leaving for a safer destination. We chose to stay put and had very little damage to show for it. But, the inconvenience of going without the basics for several days loomed large – I can’t imagine how it would have been if we had to contend with major damage in addition to having no running water, fresh food, ice and other items we take for granted.

For coastal residents who live in areas exposed to oceanic disturbances whether they be hurricanes, nor’easters, floods and the like, having a plan in place to deal with such disasters is critical. May 24-30, 2009 is National Hurricane Preparedness Week, a seven day event which helps vulnerable people get ready for the coming season. Each day has its own theme with Friday, May 29th set aside to help people develop family specific plans.

Be Prepared When Disaster Is About To Strike

Whether you choose to ride out a storm or evacuate depends on a number of things including your local forecast and whether evacuations are deemed mandatory by the government. No matter whether you’re planning to stay or leave there are some things you can do to get ready including the following:

Develop A Disaster Kit – You may have the best food storage system already in place, but that system may not do you much good if the lights go out or if a fallen tree blocks access to an outbuilding housing your goods. Minimally, you should have readily available plenty of fresh water to last for as long as a week plus canned foods to tide you over. An alternative cooking source, one that won’t asphyxiate members of your household, is important as is having enough fuel to power it. Please check out our “Manage Your Food Storage Space Wisely” article for some tips on how to organize your larger and long term space and make sure that your first aid kit is filled up and current.

Create A Family Plan – Where will you go if you plan on riding out a storm? Younger children will go with you, but if you are meeting up with older children, is there a central location for everyone to gather? For example, if you plan on meeting up at your family cabin some four hours away, does everyone know how to get there? Gassing up in advance, recharging your cell phones and carrying essential supplies with you is important. Finally, what about pets and livestock? Who will take care of them if you aren’t able to take them with you?

Should you decide to ride out the storm, deeming that neither flood waters nor debris are likely to leave you stranded, you’ll want to make sure that your home is safe for everyone. Have a safe room ready in your home in the event that winds threaten to damage your home and harm inhabitants. Usually, a center room in the home, one without windows (such as a bathroom) is the best place to wait out the worst of the stormy weather. Make sure that you have access to food, water, prescriptions, pet food and other essential supplies while you wait. Check out “What Will Inflation Do To Soft Good Prices” for related information.

Securing Your Home – Working from the outside in, you’ll want to make sure that your home will be there when you return or if you stay. Anything outside that cannot be secured in place needs to be put away as whatever is outside can become a flying projectile in a storm. Don’t expect that your aluminum shed will be found if winds push past 100 miles per hour. That wood pile near the back of your home could prove deadly in the worst of winds.

On the home, you want to make sure that shutters are secured, windows taped and/or covered with wood, all doors are securely shut and that your garage door is closed. In the worst of a storm it can seem as if rain is coming up from below, as swirling winds push water everywhere. This isn’t the time to stay put if a roof problem stands to become much worse at the height of the storm. Check the resource section which follows to learn how a roof strap could keep your roof in place during a big blow.

Expect The Unexpected

No amount of planning to foresee every problem that will come up later on. For example, in our South Carolina neighborhood following the storm, large patches of insect mounds were destroyed, sending bugs everywhere. Imagine your home surviving the worst winds only to be under siege by red ants, bees, flies and more.

Though emergency personnel will be working diligently to help people out, avoid the resistance to call 911 unless it is an absolute emergency. Your phone will probably be working, your cell phone connection may or may not be dead, but only call for help if it is a matter of life or death.

Finally, make sure that you have emergency numbers written down, important papers put in a safe place (wills, birth and marriage certificates, financial documents, homeowners insurance, etc.) and a battery operated emergency radio on hand. Enlist the help of your youngest children who may be scared but will have their fears quelled if you are organized and give them something to do. Yes, that also means having plenty of play items on hand, just the sort of things to take the edge off of life when it becomes the most challenging.

Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Resources:

American Red Cross: https://americanredcross.com/services/prepare/0,1082,0_253_,00.html

Disaster Supply Kit: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/prepare/supply_kit.shtml

Hurricane Preparation: http://www.hurricane.com/hurricane-preparation.php

Hurricane Roof Straps: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/retrofit/straps.shtml

Photo Credit: Cheryl Empey


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The Value of Do-It-Yourself Lawn Care

March 20th, 2009 by Matthew C. Keegan | 4 Comments | Filed in Home Improvement, Home Tips

Lawn care is a huge industry, one that provides plenty of seasonal jobs all across the country. But, it is also an expense that some homeowners are finding to be something they no longer want to bear, especially in the deep recession of 2009.

Lawn care is a huge industry, one that provides plenty of seasonal jobs all across the country. But, it is also an expense that some homeowners are finding to be something they no longer want to bear, especially in the deep recession of 2009.

The insistent knock at my front door one frigid February day was unmistakable: my neighbor’s landscaper was stopping by to offer me his services for the coming year. I guess he noticed that my front lawn — a patchwork design of grass, weeds and dirt — was in serious need of some tender loving care.

I’ve never had much success with growing anything out front, chiefly for the reason that by late April the shade trees block out most of the sunlight. Still, I try to put down shade tolerant grass seed but to no avail: birds swoop in before the grass takes hold and drought conditions have kept me from watering — twin problems that continue year in and year out.

Better Homes and Gardens

Truthfully, I’m not concerned that I don’t have a ‘trophy lawn’ but some of the people on my block are. One neighbor regularly puts in 50-60 hours at his high pressure management job Monday through Friday, but is up bright and early most Saturday mornings to tend to his lawn. He tells me that tending the lawn brings much satisfaction to him, helping him to relax and enjoy his property.

More power to him!

Pricey Bid With Not Much Else Included

I ended up turning down the landscaper’s offer to submit a bid, knowing that his pre-season and bi-monthly treatments of the lawn would cost me over $600. And, that price would not cover cutting the grass, removing clippings and leaves, or anything else. I don’t think he was surprised given the state of  the economy. He thanked me, quickly turned around and headed off to the next house with a distressed lawn.

Do It Yourself Lawn Care

If you’re looking for a detailed primer discussing do it yourself lawn care, I hate to disappoint you: you’d do better to go to your local home improvement store and pick up the appropriate bags of Scotts fertilizer (or a competing brand) and following their instructions.

But, I will tell you that in order to get the most from your lawn you’ll need to do the following:

Aerate — Yes, if your lawn is in fairly good condition, it can benefit from a yearly aeration. You can rent a machine that you can use to poke thousands of tiny holes in your lawn while also pulling up soil and leaving that on the surface. Basically, you’re turning over the lawn which prepares it for the next step.

Overseeding — My problem with the birds could be handled if I followed my own advice by purchasing plenty of seed and scattering it thickly across the lawn.  Birds will steal some, but not enough to make a difference. But, picking the right grass is important too — again, a visit to your home improvement store will allow you to compare seeds and to find out what works best for your lawn. Ask a knowledgeable sales person for help too — you don’t want to buy the wrong grass for your lawn.

Fertilize — You’ll be fertilizing throughout the growing season, as much as four times before the grass goes dormant in the fall. The first batch of fertilizer will help your grass take hold with subsequent feedings designed to promote growth, kill weeds and destroy insects.  A good lawn program will tell you when it is the best time to apply specific fertilizers.

Mowing — Once your grass has taken hold and grown several inches, you’ll be out there with your lawn mower to cut the grass back.  But, you’ll also risk damaging or even killing your lawn if you don’t do it right.  While your mower’s owner’s manual may offer some tips, you’ll want to follow the guidance from the grass seed company on how low to cut your particular grass. After all, if you scalp your lawn, then you’ll have more problems to deal with later. Some grasses require a 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inch height but those which are considered to be “warm weather” grasses can be cut as low as a half an inch high. Again, consult with the seed company to learn how to handle your lawn.

Watering — Oh, I wish some of my neighbors really paid attention to their watering!  From water that splashes into the street and immediately goes down the drain to automatic watering that comes on even during a strong rainstorm irritates me. I’m not against underground sprinkler systems — in fact, they can be one of the most efficient ways to keep a lawn green without wasting water. Still, over watering seems to be a problem as does wasted watering.

One of the drawbacks to do-it-yourself lawn care is the time you’ll have to put into it. In addition, you’ll need to purchase the grass and fertilizer, rent or buy equipment as well as water and cut the lawn on a regular basis. If this seems like too much work for you, consider doing part of the work yourself while farming out certain chores to someone else.

Then again, there is plenty of information online to encourage homeowners to explore other ways to maintain their lawns, some of which are friendly to the environment and much more natural in scope.

Adv. — Are you looking to save money on projects for your home? Shop for appliances, parts and other stuff online or look for a service contractor who can lend you a hand.

Photo Credit: Steve Woods


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Cold Weather Increases Likelihood of Burst Pipes

January 16th, 2009 by Matthew C. Keegan | 5 Comments | Filed in Home Tips

The coldest weather in years is now descending upon most of the country bringing with it frigid temperatures and related problems not usually experienced by many homeowners including frozen pipes.

frozen pipeAs temperatures drop below 20 degrees fahrenheit, pipes with little or no insulation can crack and spew out more than 250 gallons of water a day, destroying floors, soaking furniture, and ruining personal items. Cleaning up after a pipe burst is time consuming and smelly work, made even more difficult by the frigid temperatures.

One insurance company, State Farm, is reminding its customers to take several precautions now before the worst of the cold weather hits:

  • Avoid frozen pipes by insulating pipes that run along outside walls, floors and ceilings.
  • Disconnect outside garden hoses, wrap exposed pipes with insulating sleeves or tape, and seal foundation cracks that let arctic air freeze pipes in crawlspaces.

In addition, there are two simple tasks homeowners can do in about two minutes that can help protect pipes and homes when a severe freeze is predicted:

  • Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to piping under sinks and vanities near exterior walls.
  • Run a small trickle of water at vulnerable cold and hot faucets.

Should your pipes end up freezing anyway, you can carefully thaw them out on your own.  You need to locate which section of the pipe is frozen (usually the area where the water pipe enters the house or along exterior walls) and then heat that pipe up by pointing a hair dryer at it and running it back and forth. You can also face an electric space heater at the pipe, but that option will take longer than the hair dryer to unblock your pipes.

Do not use a blowtorch as it can quickly boil the water in your pipe and cause it to burst. Also, do not use a kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device as they can cause a fire as well as increase your exposure to deadly carbon monoxide fumes.

If you still can’t get your pipes unfrozen, then call a plumber.

Fortunately, severe cold weather generally lasts for just a few days before warmer temperatures move back in, removing the threat of bust pipes at least for the moment.

Source: State Farm

Photo Credit: Lyris Godoy


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