With Matthew’s unwelcome visit in 2016 and Irma coming through in 2017, we at ServiceMaster have had a great deal of experience helping businesses and individuals restore their property following hurricane damage. Elegant Island Living asked us to share some advice with their readers to help homeowners with hurricane preparation. Since 2003, hurricanes have cost more than $300 billion in damages to home and business owners, affecting tens of millions of Americans. We think that arming consumers with the know-how to protect themselves, their families, and their possessions during a hurricane this season is a number one goal for a community.
While it’s impossible to prevent a hurricane, there are things you can do as a home and business owner to prepare for the damage they can cause and to help minimize loss. Developing and following an evacuation plan and purchasing items for your home and emergency needs are simple steps in making sure you’re prepared if a hurricane hits the area.
Maintaining communication is essential. During a hurricane, phone service may be unavailable. Both landlines and cell towers can have outages which will break down normal lines of communication. Prepare for this disruption by communicating your evacuation plans to your friends, family, and employer. Have a written plan and make copies to give to those who would need to follow up with you when the storm has calmed. Pinpoint a meeting location or emergency lodging area near your home, as well as one that is outside of your neighborhood. This way, if your family becomes separated, everyone will know where to find each other. Identify an out-of-state friend or relative to serve as the official family contact and be sure all family members have their contact information in their cell phones and on a laminated contact card. Make sure all family members and your contact have current photos of each member of the family, including pets. Make copies of your family’s medical records.
Have at least one week’s worth of basic essential items for the home. This will be important not only in case you are unable to leave or don’t have the option of going to the store before the storm hits, but also following the storm if it takes some time to restore utilities. Estimate that each family member will need a gallon of drinking water every 3 days and stock up. Freezing bottles or gallon jugs of water allows you to use them like an ice pack to keep things cold if electricity is lost and you’ll have additional water as ice melts. Fill jugs and other containers with water to use for cooking, washing, etc. Stock up on nonperishable foods and disposables dinnerware, and don’t forget the manual can and bottle openers! Refill prescriptions several days before a hurricane. Create an emergency bag with cash, credit card, first aid kit, medications, flashlight and batteries, pens and paper, disinfectants, personal hygiene items, blankets, local map, whistle to signal for help, and a fire extinguisher. Stock up on any special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members. Make sure cell phones and any extra power cells for them are fully charged and that you have wall and car chargers. Fill up your vehicle’s gas tank.
Don’t forget about your pets! If you have animals, be sure to identify a list of refuge sites that allow pets. While many hotels and motels may make exceptions to allow animals in emergency situations, you cannot assume that will always be the case. A condition for many shelters is that pets are up to date on rabies and other shots, so make sure that is the case and that you have documentation with you. Make a pet travel bag that includes bowls, leash, food, medicine, water, microchip numbers, litter box, doggie disposable bags, and keep your carrier/crate and bedding handy. When purchasing non-perishables and water, make sure to stock up for your pets too.
Make sure what you leave behind is protected, including insurance and financial documents. Whether you stay or leave, it is important to have important documents and photos secured in a waterproof container and updated. Keep copies of important financial documents and insurance policies with you. Know your insurance policies to make sure you are covered against natural disasters. Make a list of your possessions and take pictures of everything inside and outside your home so you can provide your insurance company with a record of all valuables.
From the inside to the outside of your property, there are simple things you can do to prepare and protect your home, valuables, and sentimental items. Go around the outside of your home and secure or put away any items that could lift off the ground and do damage as a projectile object. Clear rain gutters and downspouts. Close and board up windows with ½ inch marine plywood and make sure to remove all outside antennas. Secure any alternate cooking sources like grills and smokers. Turn off and unplug all household electric and gas appliances to help reduce the risk of fire. Unplug electronic items and surge protectors. If your property gets flooded, the carpet/rug will hold moisture and could become a hazard when power is restored. Raise items off the floor as best you can, including bed skirts. Material objects hanging down will absorb water and travel upwards.
When you’re cleared to return to your home it’s possible that utilities might still be out, so if you weren’t able to stock up on necessities before you left, you may want to purchase those items we mentioned above to take home with you. Having idle hands while you wait for power to be restored can be tough, especially for kids, so grab some games, cards, and books. Other items you might consider purchasing during hurricane recovery to make you a bit more comfortable include a generator, grill, solar shower, and other solar powered items. If you plan to use a generator or grill, don’t forget the fuel!
When you’re in a hurricane’s path, always put safety first. Check weather updates frequently and pay attention to the TV or radio for information, instructions, and weather patterns. Limit phone and laptop usage to only emergency situations to preserve battery life. Every home should have battery/solar powered weather radio to allow them to stay abreast of information even if there is a loss of power. Many of these also have the bonus feature of being able to charge your cellphone and other electronic equipment. Heed all evacuation warnings. If an evacuation is called, take only what you need.
Remember we are ALL in the same boat! Our county does a very good job making sure that we will be safe upon returning to our homes. Once home, assess your surroundings, look for a waterline on your walls, doors, and windows, this is very important and do not wipe down. If there is any damage, document it by taking photos and contact your insurance company. Your insurance provider will need to know the condition of your property before any attempts to restore it back to normal. For restoration, contact a professional like ServiceMaster with the experience, resources, and expertise to work with you and your insurance company to help restore your property back to normal.
There are many resources available to help you prepare for hurricane season, stay informed during storms, and assist you in recovery following a disaster. We recommend that you visit the Department of Homeland Security’s Ready site at ready.gov. Stay abreast of any information from Glynn County agencies and officials by following the Glynn County website at glynncounty.org and the Glynn County EMA and Homeland Security Facebook page. You’ll find information about how to proceed if your home or business suffers damage in a hurricane on our website at ServiceMasterRestore.com.
If your property incurs damage, call us at 888.439.5743 for immediate emergency service anytime. We’re here to help 24/7/365. ServiceMaster Restoration & Clean by A1 is located at 143 Skyspaces Ct. on St. Simons Island. You can contact our business office for non-emergency matters at 912.638.1498.
