2008 Hurricane Season – Create a Disaster Plan

In the past couple of posts, we’ve discussed Creating a Disaster Supply Kit and having a Pet Plan. While these are necessary to have, they really won’t mean anything if you do not have a Disaster Plan in place. This is just one more item to help all remain calm during this time.

Since we already have a Disaster Supply Kit and a Pet Plan, we now need to focus on when will implement these whether it is just yourself, maybe a spouse or partner, or even a family. One of the things that needs to be discussed is the types of hazards that you can come across and what you can possibly expect in terms of damage to the structure of your home. Not thinking about this is only deluding yourself. On the other hand I’m also not proposing dwelling on this as well.

One thing you need to do it to determine where the safest part of your home is in case a hurricane should strike. In some instances, your home may not be safe and some other area or location may have to be considered. Additionally, evacuation routes should be considered, but if you are NOT in a mandatory-evacuation area, then do not leave! This can’t be stressed enough. There will be too many people already trying to leave areas that are supposedly more imperiled and more people will just add to the chaos and clogging of the roads.

But you do need to plan on where to meet if other than your home. Also, make sure that you have someone out of the area and preferably out of state to be the key contact person for all of you.

The following are links to Storm Shelters for the counties of Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia. You will note that some shelters are denoted for pets, those with special needs, and whether they be a primary or secondary shelter. Also do not go to a shelter until you are instructed to do so.

Again, let’s hope for a very mild hurricane season! And no matter what you do – be safe!

For information on Orange and Seminole County real estate and Orange and Seminole County homes for sale in addition to Orange and Seminole County relocation contact Marc Grossman, your Orange and Seminole County Realtor @ 407-463-1034. Additional information is available for Seminole County real estate, Orange County real estate, West Volusia County and South Lake County.

To learn more about Marc and the services he has to offer, visit his profile & website.

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2008 Hurricane Season – Pet Plan

It’s easy with all the running around and chaos to sometimes forget about your pets or at least the planning for their safety as well. I was planning on writing this post a little later on, but with the mentions about our pets, I thought I’d do it now.

Here’s a rule of thumb to think about. If it’s dangerous for you, then it’s dangerous for your pets. Didn’t Katrina and others teach us that? If you wait for the last minute and don’t plan, you will most likely leave your pet thinking that they’ll be alright and that you’ll come back for them tomorrow. But you surely don’t know what’s going to happen now, so how can you be so sure of tomorrow. Yes, we’d like to be optimistic, but let’s go one step better – let’s be smart!

OK, enough of a lecture. Now to our beloved friends…

One of the first things you have to consider is where are you going if disaster strikes. Now, we will take further on this in another post, but you have to consider it moreso when your pets are involved. Not all shelters will accept pets, yet there are usually pet shelters available depending on where you live. Oh yes, and they will fill quickly. There is also the possibility of friends and relatives, but you have to remember that this may be a greater imposition than what one has a right to expect.

Additionally, you need to make sure of a couple of things:

Make sure your pet is current on their vaccinations & that you have proof

of such, because the shelters will probably require this.

You’ll need a pet carrier. Because even though you may be at a pet

shelter, you pet will have to be caged, so make sure that it has

enough room.

Have a collar, leash and possibly even a current photo.

Ample food & water for your pet as well as yourself. You’ll also need food

& water bowls as well as any medications and also trash bags and

newspaper for clean-ups.

Don’t forget a favorite toy of your pet and possibly even their bed. Just

something to be a sort of stress-relief.

As the storm approaches, try to keep you pet calm. You should know how intuitive they are. They will sense an impending emergency in you, so that means that you have to try to remain calm as well.

After an experience like this, which may be somewhat traumatic for some animals, be careful until they are fully re-orientated back into their home.

Remember, this will be almost as stressful on your pet as it will be yourself.

But then again, let’s hope that you never need to implement any of these measures!!

2008 Hurricane Season – Create a Disaster Supply Kit

Don’t wait until you hear warnings of a hurricane/tropical storm approaching. Unfortunately, too many people do and are rushing to Home Depot, Lowes, not to forget all of the grocery stores in search of supplies. You can and should be stocked up on this beforehand and in many instances the cost will be less to you because once the supplies start getting low, the prices rise.

Let’s first look at the necessary list of items and then we’ll discuss this a little further:

Water – at least 1 gal per person per day for 3 – 7 days.

Food – for at least 3 – 7 days

Non-perishable canned or packaged goods & juices

Comfort foods - snacks

Cooking utensils and fuel, such as a filled propane tank for a grill

Disposable products – paper plates and plastic utensils

Food for infants and the elderly

Medicines/Prescription Drugs

Flashlights & batteries as well as candles & lighters/matches

Battery operated Radios

Telephones – cell phones charged & a regular corded telephone

Vehicles should have full tanks of gas

Cash & also Credit Cards (yet with a power outage they may not be as easily

used). Don’t forget to have some coins on hand as well.

Keys

Important documents – placed in a watertight container

Insurance policies – house, medical, life

Bank account numbers & passbooks and checkbooks

Social Security cards

Any important documents that you store in your home should be easily

accessible if needed in a moments notice.

Toiletries & Moist wipes

Special items – for babies and the elderly

First Aid Kit

Toys & Games for children and also books and reading material.

Possibly bedding & clothing and surely don’t forget about your pets, but this will be discussed more fully in another post shortly.

This is by far not a complete list, but gives you an idea of some things to have readily available. Additionally, many of these things should be kept in a watertight container as a storm approaches because what use are many of these items if they get wet.

If you know a major storm is approaching possibly turn the refrigerator and freezer up to their coldest settings and make as much ice as possible with the time that you have. Yes, it will cost you a little electricity, but it also may have your refrigerated products last longer. If the power does go out and you need to retrieve something from the refrigerator, think about where it is before opening the door. You don’t want too much cold air escaping. Also, don’t forget that over time your food will thaw and there will be water that will collect in the bottom of your freezer and refrigerator.

I know this may appear to be somewhat scary and overwhelming, but preparing ahead of time will allow you to cope with a situation more easily.

Here’s hoping that you won’t need to use any of these suggestions!

Hurricane Season 2008 Is Here!

Yes, today is the first day of the 2008 Hurricane Season which lasts for the next six months. The NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that it predicts we will have a ‘near normal or above normal Atlantic hurricane season.’ Talk about ambiguity. I trust them to track the storms, but don’t put much weight on their predictions. I think they’ve been more often incorrect in their predictions.

The 2008 tropical storm names are:

Arthur
Bertha
Cristobal
Dolly
Edouard
Fay
Gustav
Hanna
Ike
Josephine
Kyle
Laura
Marco
Nana
Omar
Paloma
Rene
Sally
Teddy
Vicky
Wilfred

In the event of more than 21 names storms, the Greek Alphabet will then be used.

In the next few days, we’ll be discussing several things that you should do to be prepared for weathering a storm. In the meantime, here are some links that you may find useful:

The National Hurricane Center

The National Weather Service

Central Florida Hurricane Center

Hoping that this is an easy and light storm season for all of us!

Get Your Home Ready For Summer!

Today’s Memorial Day, so enjoy your hammock, BBQ, pool or whatever relaxation that you have planned, but don’t forget to prepare your home for summer. It’s here and in someplaces moreso than others, especially being in Florida.

First and foremost, have your a/c checked to make sure that it is running properly and efficiently. Most of us already have our air conditioning units on all of the time and with July and August coming up they are going to working full throttle.

Also, make sure that you change your filters regularly and don’t buy the cheap ones. The are generally not as good as the pleated air filters and will allow dirt and debris through ultimately clogging up your coils and therefore a more costly repair than just spending a little extra of a better filter. Even if the filter states that it is good for 90 days, change it at 60 days. With the amount of dust that we have here this is necessary. You know that once you clean your home, there is already a layer of dust there. This is something that you can’t get away from in Florida.

Clean that clothes dryer vent. Yes, it is a pain and difficult for some to do. In that case, hire someone to do it. It is generally not that costly of an expense and there are several local companies that do this work. This is not only important in regard to your clothes dry running efficiently, but more importantly poses a fire hazard.

Clean the tracks of sliding glass doors. This is very simple and easy to do, but very much overlooked by many. Just vacuum up any loose debris and then wipe/wash the tracks clean. This will allow your sliding glass doors to operate more easily.

Check seals around doors and windows. With the driving rains that we get quite often, this is important to prevent water intrusion and the myriad of issues that can and will create.

Keep those leaders and gutters clear. A clogged gutter will most likely cause a rotted fascia & trim. And with the amount of rain that we hope to get, you want the rainwater to flow easily.

Let’s not forget our lawns and yards. Make sure that you treat them for pests and fertilize before it gets too rainy. Try to make sure that tree limbs are not overhanging your home. Not only is this not good with hurricane season starting shortly, but also gives insects another way into your home.

And with that in mind, make sure that you are preparing for the advent of hurricane season. Check batteries, alternate lighting and radios. Make sure that you have canned food and water on hand. We’ll go more into this in another post shortly.

This is just a small list and I’m sure that we can extend this greatly. Hope you all have a great summer and enjoy!!