Hurricane Ready!

Hurricane Ready!

‘Tis the season for Houstonians to begin to hear of tropical disturbances as we wait and anxiously watch (and pray) that will not turn in to a major weather event. While we can’t control what this hurricane season has in store, we can do a lot in the way of being prepared. 

The most important way to be prepared is to know where to go for accurate information about the weather.  My vote is the guys over at spacecityweather.com . Their goal is provide “hype-free forecasts for Houston.” Download their app to be in the know about all things happening with the local forecast.

The second thing you should do is make sure your home is hurricane prepared.  Here’s a list of exterior items to focus on now to help minimize the damage a storm may bring.

• Trim trees and shrubs – Any foliage that touches your home should be trimmed and cut back.
• Clean out gutters – In a major storm, you want the gutter system to do what it is designed to do…move water away from the structure.  Take the time now to ensure there is no debris that would inhibit that system from functioning as intended.
• Fix grade issues – Have you noticed a spot in your yard that holds water after a heavy rain? Standing water is not good in any circumstance, but you want that corrected before there is a major weather event.  Sometimes this is as easy as adding dirt to a low area.  Other times a professional may need to come in to add a drain system or a regrade your yard.  Either way, taking care of this now is a smart decision!
• Caulk the holes – Fill in the cracks and holes around your home’s exterior in order to prevent water from coming in.
• Have your roof inspected – Loose shingles can be blown away creating an opening for wind and water to enter.  Having a roofer do a quick evaluation of any possible trouble areas could save you a major headache.

Next make sure the inside of your home has the supplies you will need in case of an unfortunate weather event.  Again, being prepared now will help lower the stress and frenzy of gathering these supplies at the same time as the rest of the city.  Here’s a few things you may want to have on hand:

• Extra Water – a three day supply of one gallon of water per person per day is the recommended amount.
• First Aid & Medication – Fill a first aid kit with bandages, ointments, antiseptic wipes and sterile gauze pads; as well as eyeglasses, insulin, prescription and non prescription medication.
• Tools & Supplies – Keep these items handy: flashlight, battery operated radio, non-electric can opener, matches and candles, paper plates and utensils and cash and coins. 
• Sanitation – Make sure you have enough toilet paper, soap, feminine & personal hygiene items, disinfectants, and garbage bags.
• Baby Needs – Make sure to have baby formula, diapers, blankets and clean clothes
• Pet Needs – Do you have enough dog food?
• Possessions and Documents – One thing we learned from Harvey is to keep your important documents in a waterproof container: birth / marriage / death certificates, passports, social security cards and deeds, stocks and bonds.
• Entertainment – Have some board games, a deck of cards, a good book and a puzzle handy to pass the time.

The best-case scenario is we have a quiet hurricane season this year, but better to be safe and prepared for whatever the season holds, and all of these “to do’s” are a good idea storm or no storm. If you need recommendations for a landscaper or roofer, please reach out! I have several great contacts.