Prepare for Spring Storms

Posted on 04-15-2016

It's hard to predict what Mother Nature will do this time of year, and storms can turn severe without much warning.  Get your home and family prepared ahead of time with these tips...

1.  Go with the flow.  Chances are winter has left debris in your home's drains, gutters and downspouts.  Keep these drainage systems clean so that water is able to freely flow away from your home's foundation.  You may even want to invest in extensions, if needed.

2.  Trim the limbs.  Spring is a good time to take the pruning shears to your trees.  Any loose or dead limbs should be cut back.  Any tree branches that are too close to electric lines need to be trimmed away by a professional.  Be sure to prune away any limbs that could cause damage to your home, garage, and car if severe weather and high winds were to occur.

3.  No lawn clutter.  When severe weather is in the forecast, it's a good idea to make sure lawn furniture is put away or secured against high winds.  Put away toys and other objects that could be easily blown to prevent damage to your home and windows.

4.  Stock emergency kits.  Your home should always have an emergency kit on hand, but during severe storms, make sure you have a kit accessible in your home's storm shelter or room where you and your family take shelter during warnings.  An emergency kit should have your basic First Aid essentials.  Have a weather radio on hand that also has a cell phone charger crank in case the electricity is out for an extended period.  Also, make sure your fire extinguishers are up-to-date and easy to get to.

5.  Pets are family.  Prepare your pets with updated vaccinations.  Bring pets indoors if storms are in the forecast, and it's always good to have a collar with updated information on the tags.  Not everyone would think to take your pet to the vet to check for a chip.