We are seeing strong storms this year with heavy rainfall. Have you had water in your basement for the first time? Has the water jumped over your gutters? Is your home ready for the next big storm? Do you have a storm preparation plan for your home and business? Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you get ready:
Before the Storm Hits: Protecting Your Property
- Understand Your Insurance: Know what your home and business insurance policies cover before the storm. Identify who to call for claims to ensure a smooth and quick process if you experience damage.
- Clear Drainage Systems:
- Gutters: Ensure all gutters are clear of leaves and debris.
- Downspouts: Verify that downspouts are directing water away from your foundation. Consider adding extensions if water isn’t flowing far enough from the structure.
- Storm Drains: Check the storm drains around your property. Clear any debris to allow for free water flow.
- Landscape Beds: Examine your landscape beds to prevent mulch from washing out and clogging drains.
- Flood Prevention:
- Sandbags: If you’re in a flood-prone area, stock up on sandbags. Stack them like a brick wall, ensuring the wall is at least 12 inches higher than the expected water level and twice as wide as it is tall for maximum effectiveness.
- Elevate Valuables: Move computers, important files, photo albums, and other valuables to higher ground. Remember, a locked and closed dishwasher can be a surprisingly watertight cabinet for smaller items.
- Secure Outdoor Items: Walk around your property and secure anything that could become a projectile in strong winds. This includes outdoor chairs, trash cans, bikes, toys, hanging plants, and lawn decorations.
- Address Tree Hazards: Inspect your trees for any diseased or damaged limbs. If you find any, have them professionally removed as soon as possible to prevent them from falling during the storm.
Essential Supplies and Emergency Plans
- Lighting: Check your flashlights and ensure they have fresh batteries. Stock up on extra batteries. For a bright, room-filling light, try attaching a headlamp to a gallon jug of water.
- Communication: Locate your first-aid kit. Have a battery-powered radio on hand in case internet or cellular service is disrupted.
- Fuel and Transportation: Fill your car’s gas tank before the weekend. If you have extra gas cans, fill those as well.
- Household Supplies: Ensure you have a good stock of essentials like toilet paper, diapers, wipes, baby food, and pet food.
- Food and Water: Store plenty of drinking water. Stock up on non-perishable foods that don’t require cooking.
- Water Management (for Wells): If you rely on a well, fill your bathtub with water. This provides a reserve for flushing toilets if the power goes out and your pump stops working.
- Sump Pump Check: Verify that your sump pump is in working order, oiled, and ready to pump water away from your basement or crawl space.
Post-Storm Preparedness
- Cooking and Cleanup:
- Grill: Make sure your grill’s propane tank is full so you have a way to cook if there’s an extended power outage.
- Shop Vac & Towels: Have a shop vac readily available for easy water cleanup after the storm. Keep a stash of clean towels for mopping up any spills or leaks.
- Chainsaw: If you have one, ensure your chainsaw is fueled and in good working order in case you need to clear downed limbs or trees.
- Power Backup: Consider purchasing a portable generator to keep essential appliances like your refrigerator and freezer running in the event of a prolonged power outage.
What else should be on this list? Please add your advice to the comments section below to help our community prepare!
