A look at the weather map shows three storms swirling in the Atlantic Ocean today: Danielle, Earl and the latest, Fiona. Danielle, once just a tropical storm, is now a category 4 hurricane—the first major one of the season. Hurricane Danielle is reported to have 135 mph winds and a path that leads it east of Bermuda at the moment. Tropical Storm Earl only has 45 mph winds, but MSNBC reports its path looks a little more problematic and is worth watching closely. Tropical Storm Fiona just developed off the east coast of Africa and few details are known about it right now.
Prepare Your Home against Hurricane Water Damage
With storms starting late in the hurricane season, home and business owners need to keep back-to-school preparations and hurricane preparations in the back of their minds. A common misconception about hurricanes is that their winds cause the most damage. However, the truth is that water is a hurricane’s most damaging factor. Two-inches of water flooding a home can cost up to $8,000 in repairs.
‘Tis the season for hurricanes, and it’s up to you to be prepared:
Know the most vulnerable places in your building or home. Find cracks and seal them ASAP, even if the weather forecast is nice. Make sure you focus on cracks around windows and doors since those can make a little bit of water turn into a big problem.
Have sandbags ready. Even if you are not technically in a flood zone, it’s always smart to place sandbags in the areas under the doors of your home and business when the weather is nasty.
Place important items and items you do not want getting wet on the second story of a business or home. If you have heavy furniture, raise it onto cinderblocks.
Cover your belongings with a plastic tarp; your electronic equipment will thank you. Though a room may not flood, there is always the potential for a leak in the roof.
Call a professional ASPAP if there is any water damage after a storm. The longer water damaged items and wet documents sit around, the more damage they will experience. Additionally, bacteria and mold thrive in and on wet or damp items, which could put your family’s health at risk.
It only takes a couple hours of work to protect your belongings from water damage and save you thousands of dollars. Make an emergency preparedness checklist today.
Tropical Storm Kyle has now been updated to a Category One Hurricane. The severity of this storm is not expected to increase over the next 12-24 hours, according to the National Weather Service. Kyle is expected to weaken on Sunday night.
USE ONLY WATER THAT HAS BEEN PROPERLY DISINFECTED FOR DRINKING, COOKING, MAKING ANY PREPARED DRINK, OR FOR BRUSHING TEETH
Use bottled water that has not been exposed to flood waters if it is available.
If you don’t have bottled water, you should boil water to make it safe. Boiling water will kill most types of disease-causing organisms that may be present. If the water is cloudy, filter it through clean cloths or allow it to settle, and draw off the clear water for boiling. Boil the water for one minute, let it cool, and store it in clean containers with covers.
If you can’t boil water, you can disinfect it using household bleach. Bleach will kill some, but not all, types of disease-causing organisms that may be in the water. If the water is cloudy, filter it through clean cloths or allow it to settle, and draw off the clear water for disinfection. Add 1/8 teaspoon (or 8 drops) of regular, unscented, liquid household bleach for each gallon of water, stir it well and let it stand for 30 minutes before you use it. Store disinfected water in clean containers with covers.
If you have a well that has been flooded, the water should be tested and disinfected after flood waters recede. If you suspect that your well may be contaminated, contact your local or state health department or agriculture extension agent for specific advice.
One of the greatest causes of hurricane damage occurs as part of the initial storm surge that takes place. In fact, these surges typically result in the highest loss of life because of their suddenness and strength of force.
A storm surge is defined as the water that is pushed up toward the shoreline by the force of the hurricane winds swirling over the water and around the storm. This surge along with normal tides create a hurricane storm tide. This causes a rise in water levels that can result in severe floods along the coast. Towns and cities located very close to sea level and along a shallowly sloped coast line will be the most affected by storm surge damage. In contrast, a steeper shelf or a higher elevation blocks much of the surge’s strength.
Homes located in areas where a storm surge is likely to cause significant flooding should take proper precautions to plan for flood damage.
At a blogger roundtable in Washington DC last week, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator David Paulison discussed hurricane preparation and plans. Some highlights from that session were that both agencies don’t want the public to be caught off guard this hurricane season. The last two years were considered pretty mild by disaster experts but in no way does the government want people to sit back and do nothing in preparation for the season.
To this end, the two went on to discuss making sure individuals properly prepare for a potential disaster by winds and flooding. The two also discussed how the National Response Framework has been laid out and how the agency plans to encourage the public to create emergency plans through Ready Campaign Advertisements. Questions were also fielded related to the response and preparation help available for the poor or disabled.
The entire transcript is lengthy but very interesting, especially for those that may live in a high hurricane frequency zone.
