What to Do After a Storm Damages Your Home: 5 Steps to Take

5/9/2022 (Permalink)

If a storm damages your home, it can feel like your life is suddenly flipped upside down. You may feel overwhelmed with the destruction the storm has caused, and it can be difficult to know what to do first. But careful planning before a storm hits can help you navigate the challenging waters afterward, so you can return to normalcy as quickly as possible. So what should you do after a natural disaster? Here are 5 steps to take so you can be prepared if a storm damages your home.

1) Be careful and stay alert

The destruction and aftermath of a storm of any kind can pose serious injuries. Once you’re certain you and your household members are safe and unharmed, take the necessary precautions to avoid injuries. It’s common to come across hazards from storm damage like broken glass, exposed nails, or displaced screws, so keep an eye out. Be alert of unsecured piles of debris like caved-in roofing materials, standing water, and collapsed walls.

It’s important to always assume that downed power lines are still energized and dangerous. Stay as far away from the power lines if possible and alert the police if you find downed power lines in your neighborhood. Additionally, if you smell gas, immediately shut off any gas valves to prevent further danger.

2) Assess the damage and take photos of the storm damage

After the storm has passed and before contacting your insurance company, assess the storm damage to your home. To ensure you’re fully compensated, take pictures of any interior and exterior damage to your home. Your house could have structural damage, so always be cautious as you’re moving about your home. When you’re inspecting the interior and exterior, record any of the following:

• Roof lifting and lost shingles. Be alert of any holes or leaks in the roof, split seams, dents on vents and gutters, missing, broken, or dented shingles. You can work with an experienced roofer to find a local, reputable insurance agency.
• Missing or damaged exterior siding. Rain can cause damage to siding and strong winds can tear it right off.
• Broken windows and destroyed doors. The wind itself as well as the debris it carries can easily break windows and blow open doors.
• Damaged or broken appliances, including your air conditioner. This is commonly due to water damage.
• Basement flooding. When the soil surrounding your home becomes too saturated with water, your basement or crawl space can flood, causing damage to your belongings and the foundation of your home.
• Moisture damage. Rain and water can seep into your home and cause mold to develop in insulation, wood, furniture, and carpeting.
• Fire damage. Electrical shorts caused by downed power lines or water entering outlets and electrical equipment can cause fires.

Don’t forget to record the loss or destruction to your personal items too. Most homeowner’s insurance policies include personal property coverage up to a scheduled limit.

3) Call your insurance agent right away

After you’ve taken photos of the storm damage, call your agent as soon as possible and stay in contact until your claim is resolved. They’ll be able to explain what kinds of damage your insurance policy covers. Make sure to discuss the damage caused to your home and provide the photos you took along with proper documentation. Following this, your insurance company will send out an adjuster to determine the extent of the damage.

4) Stop further damage

Now is the time to do what you can and stop any further damage from occurring. If storm damage is allowing wind and water to get into your home, start by covering broken windows or a leaking roof with a tarp or plywood. Do what you can first to minimize further damage, then consider contacting a local restoration service provider to help you out. They can help you tackle storm damage and get your property back to normal. If you don’t know of a trusted contractor in your area, oftentimes your insurance company can help you get in contact with a reputable contractor to avoid any scams.

During this time, if your home is in poor condition, consider booking a hotel room or staying with friends and family for the time being. If your home requires extensive repair, make sure you return only when it’s safe to do so.

5) Stay organized and keep receipts

Keep good documentation for any claim to your homeowner’s insurance. For example, save all receipts for materials and labor to ensure you receive fair reimbursement.

Familiarize yourself with what your homeowner’s insurance policy covers. For example, a typical homeowners insurance policy will cover tree damage from a storm, but the biggest exception to most coverages is flood damage. Regardless of carrier, flood damage is not covered as part of a standard policy. Therefore, you’ll need flood insurance in the event that your home is damaged by a flood.

A homeowner’s insurance policy will typically cover three scenarios:

• Weather damage: This typically includes damage due to hail, wind, fire, snow, and more.
• Non-weather events: Common non-weather events are actions like theft and vandalism.
• Sudden/accidental events: This includes situations like a water pipe breaking or a water leak.

If you live in an extreme-weather area with high storm risk, speak with your agent to find out if it’s in your best interest to protect your home and belongings with storm damage or flood insurance. It’s an additional coverage you can opt for in your homeowner’s policy, but can help you after a storm damages your home

Storm Emergency Kit

5/6/2022 (Permalink)

Spring is the time of year when many things change—including the weather. Temperatures can swing back and forth between balmy and frigid. Sunny days may be followed by a week of stormy weather. Sometimes extreme weather changes can occur even within the same day. Thunderstorms cause most of the severe spring weather. They can bring lightning, tornadoes, and flooding. Whenever warm, moist air collides with cool, dry air, thunderstorms can occur. Because spring weather is so unpredictable, you may be unprepared when severe weather hits—particularly if you live in a region that does not often experience thunderstorms, tornadoes, or flooding. And when severe weather hits unexpectedly, the risk of injury and death increases. So planning ahead makes sense; prepare for storms, floods, and tornadoes as if you know in advance they are coming, because in the spring, they very likely will. Advance planning for thunderstorms, lightning, tornadoes, and floods requires specific safety precautions. Keep an emergency kit on hand. Some items to include are: A battery-operated flashlight, a battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio, and extra batteries for bothAn emergency evacuation or shelter plan, including a map of your home and, for every type of severe weather emergency, routes to safety from each roomA list of important personal information, including:telephone numbers of neighbors, family, and friendsinsurance and property informationtelephone numbers of utility companiesmedical informationAccording to the American Red Cross a first aid kit may include:non-latex glovesassortment of adhesive bandagesantibiotic ointmentsterile gauze pads in assorted sizesabsorbent compress dressingstweezersscissorsadhesive cloth tapeaspirin packets (81 mg each)First aid instruction booklet (NOTE: Customize your first aid kit to meet your individual and family needs.)A 3–5 day supply of bottled water and nonperishable foodPersonal hygiene itemsBlankets or sleeping bagsAn emergency kit in your car

Wind Storm Damage Prevention Tips

5/6/2022 (Permalink)

Winter is here! Now is the time to prepare so that you are ready when snow storms hit. Here are some helpful tips: Make sure your home heating sources are installed according to local codes and permit requirements.Make sure your home heating sources are clean and in working order.Make sure your home is properly insulated. Caulk and weather-strip doors and window sills to keep cold air out.Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside to provide an extra layer of insulation to keep cold air out.Consider buying emergency heating equipment, such as a wood or coal burning stove or an electric or kerosene heater. Stoves must be properly vented and in good working order. Dispose of ashes safely. Keep a supply of wood or coal on hand.Electric space heaters, either portable or fixed, must be certified by an independent testing laboratory. Plug a heater directly into the wall socket rather than using an extension cord and unplug it when it is not in use.Use a kerosene heater only if permitted by law in your area; check with your local fire department. Use only the correct fuel for your unit. Properly ventilate the area. Refuel the unit outdoors only, and only when the unit is cool. Follow all of the manufacturer's instructions.Consider storing sufficient heating fuel. Regular fuel sources may be cut off. Be cautious of fire hazards when storing any type of fuel.If you have a fireplace, consider keeping a supply of firewood or coal. Be sure the fireplace is properly vented and in good working order and that you dispose of ashes safely.Consider purchasing a portable generator in case of power outages.Consider purchasing flood insurance, if you live in a flood-prone area, to cover possible flood damage that may occur during the spring thaw. Homeowners' policies do not cover damage from floods. Ask your insurance agent about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) if you are at risk.

Dealing with Insurance Companies After a Storm

4/26/2022 (Permalink)

Document damage to your home before clean up with photos or video, and compile a written list of damaged items.
Read your homeowner insurance policy thoroughly to see what is and isn’t covered before contacting the insurance company.
If you have trouble contacting your insurance company, try a multipronged approach including phone calls, emails, faxes, and letters.

Cleaning Up After A Storm

4/26/2022 (Permalink)

Be very careful climbing ladders or working on roofs.
Use extreme caution if using a chainsaw to cut trees or branches.
Cover leaking roofs before the next rain to prevent further water damage.
Remove wet rugs and carpet from floors.
Open windows and run fans if you have water damage in your home.

Staying Safe After a Storm

4/26/2022 (Permalink)

Listen to the radio for advisories and other instructions.
Do not venture outside until it has been declared safe to do so.
Stay away from downed power lines and avoid standing water or metal objects near downed wires.
Leave and do not enter buildings that have sustained structural damage.
Stay away from damaged trees and dangling or broken limbs.
Do not swim or wade in flood waters.
Check on neighbors, especially those who are elderly or disabled.
Watch out for snakes or other wild animals.
Turn the gas off at the meter if you smell gas.
Do not drive unless absolutely necessary.
If you must drive, watch for undermined roads and damaged bridges.
Do not attempt to drive through flooded streets or bridges.
Avoid using candles or other open flames indoors.
Keep a fire extinguisher handy at all times.
Test battery powered smoke and CO alarms.
Make sure your sewer system is working before flushing toilets.
Keep pets indoors and use a leash when taking them outside.
Operate generators outdoors in the open away from windows and doors.
Don’t eat perishable food that has warmed to over 40° F.

We Are The Crew To Call If Your Home Experiences A Flood

12/12/2020 (Permalink)

Removing Damage And Restoring Homes After A Flood

To remediate the effects of flood damage in Northern Virginia, SERVPRO technicians pay close attention to the walls and other places where water collects and remains after the flood retreats, and we remove standing water. Quick removal helps to eliminate further damage and reduces the effects where damage already started.

Response team members quickly remove furniture outside for cleaning, but efforts inside center around replacement or restoration. As an example, interior walls often absorb much water, but can still be restored to a clean, usable condition.

SERVPRO technicians start by removing floor trim and drilling holes into drywall to release standing water. If the drilling shows that an affected panel is already crumbling or it cracks upward, then it absorbed too much moisture and required replacement. Team members then carefully break up the damaged panels, bag them, and remove them for proper disposal.

If there is no cracking or crumbling, then we take steps to dry each panel and the space behind them. For the exterior, this means directing an air mover to generate warm, dry air over the surface that carefully forces out moisture, so it evaporates into the air.

For the interior, our technicians use another air mover with an attached hose to force air into the wall cavity. That helps to dry the panel and the wall frame where it is attached. One of our inspectors uses a moisture meter to check that everything is back to a normal level and then team members patch the holes and reattach the floor trim.

For SERVPRO it is not really about customers. We work to help our neighbors return their residences to a clean, dry condition so they can get on with their lives. If this situation includes your home, call us today to find out what we can do for you.

Preparing Yourself for Winter Storms

12/10/2020 (Permalink)

PREPARE YOUR HOME & VEHICLE

PUT TOGETHER A SUPPLY KIT

 A basic emergency supply kit should include the following recommended items:

 When evacuation is deemed necessary:

SERVPRO is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Whether you need emergency winter storm damage remediation or other restorative services, you can trust us to make your house feel like home again. We have the training, experience, and equipment to quickly get your home looking its best.

What causes flooding?

12/9/2020 (Permalink)

There are many causes of flood damage in your home or business.

Anything can happen to flood your home or cause water in your business; even small accidents like a supply line break or a pipe break can cause a flooded home. Some causes are preventable, others are not.

The most common causes:

Effects of Excessive Water?

Unless the water cleanup and drying is handled correctly and by a professional, the devastation can quickly spread. A Water Damage Restoration Professional is experienced in the mitigation process and can save you time, money and headaches. Without them, you are exposing yourself to all types of additional problems with water in your home or water in your business:

There is more involved than just fixing a pipe break or supply line break.

What to Do When You Suffer Storm Damage

12/8/2020 (Permalink)

What to Do When You Suffer Storm Damage

Water is the world's most powerful force, and while most people just focus on the wind when they think about a hurricane, flooding is almost always the bigger issue. In places around the world where storm damage has happened, river flooding, ground water problems and other subsequent issues have led to roof damage, roof leaks and other similar concerns. When you find yourself inundated with flood water and hurricane damage, what should you do? Whether it's hail damage, ice damage, wind damage or damage to your flood pump, it's important to have a plan. Here's where to start with storm remediation.

Put in a call to FEMA

Perhaps the first step when you've suffered storm damage is to put in a call to FEMA. Whether river flooding filled your house or you suffered a roof leak from wind damage, a call to FEMA is the first step in storm remediation. FEMA is a federal agency set up to help people deal with storm restoration, home restoration and other types of storm remediation. If you've taken a direct hit and are suffering from hurricane damage, FEMA can sometimes provide you with money to use in the storm remediation. You'll have to get a FEMA number to get the process started.

Gather and protect your personal information for insurance and other claims

If you've been the victim of flooding, wind damage, roof damage, roof leaks and other problems, you may be able to file an insurance claim that will provide you with the money to hire a professional to fix your home. Ground water and flood water can be dangerous, so it's critical to get the process started early. Even if you're the victim of a winter storm and you have frozen pipes from ice damage along with hail damage, you should still gather your information for insurance purposes. The home restoration process from a problem with ice damming or wind damage is largely the same. It should start with the successful protection of your most important documents so you'll have what you need when you go to file an insurance claim to cover that roof repair.

Get out of a damaged house as quickly as possible

Whether an ice dam has busted of you need storm restoration because of wind damage, it's critical not to spend time in a damaged home. Those homes suffering from ice damage or ice damming problems can have structural issues and be unsafe. If you don't have ice damage and you instead have river flooding, you may be living in a veritable cesspool. Your safety should be most important, so it pays to get out before you start the process of a complete home restoration or water restoration. After you've gotten out, you can find a professional company to provide storm damage help, including roof repair for a roof leak, water pump action for flooding, and full home restoration for ground water problems.

Call a company to provide professional help

Water restoration in your home is easiest with an professional flood pump, and frozen pipes from an ice dam issue shouldn't be handled by an amateur. If you find yourself fixing frozen pipes because of ice damming, you are doing it wrong. The better option to rid yourself of flood water or handle that roof repair is to invest in professional help. If it's hurricane damage that's brought that river flooding into your home, then you'll likely have a long road ahead of you. The flood water and ground water problems can do significant damage to the bones of your home, and a professional water restoration company may have to fix your home over the long haul. Even if it's just hail damage or ice damage from ice damming problems, you may have an insurance payoff to help you get professional help into your home. Take advantage of that and save yourself the trouble.

If it's storm restoration you're after, get your affairs in order and call a professional storm restoration company with skilled people and a real flood pump. If it's something like roof damage or other structural storm damage, allow a professional to do that roof repair or fix problems from an ice dam. Frozen pipes and water restoration from hurricane damage are nothing to play around with. A professional who has dealt with ice dam issues or hail damage before can walk you through a stressful time. Their flood pump may just accelerate the process, too, if you have extensive water in your home.

Why a Flood Cut Is Worth It After a Storm

12/4/2020 (Permalink)

When a storm hits flooding is many homeowners’ biggest fear. However, while contamination from standing water is a serious danger, water damage and contaminates left after the flooding recedes can not only cause health concerns but issues with your home’s insulation. A flood cut, or removal of the drywall from the floor to 12 inches above the flood line in a room affected by flooding, can ensure that your walls dry completely and don’t harbor mold or other health hazards. Additionally, a tear out of the drywall can reveal further water damage that must be repaired.

Not all cases require a flood cut. When the flooding only involves clean water, as from a broken pipe, and if there is no insulation in the wall, a flood cut may not be necessary. Flood cuts are typically used in the following situations:

• If flooding is due to a storm or sewage backup and the flood water may be contaminated

• If wet insulation is detected

• If microbial growth of any kind is detected

Flood Cuts Keep You and Your Family Healthy

When flood water is contaminated, it can foster the growth of mold and other bacteria harmful to your health. Because flood waters can seep through drywall, health hazards can be hidden in the walls even if the room looks dry and clean on the surface. A flood cut ensures that walls are thoroughly dried and free from growth, keeping you and your family safe.

Flood Cuts Reveal Hidden Damage

While not all walls are insulated, flooded homes with insulation need flood cuts to reveal water damage behind the drywall. Drywall tear out can reveal whether insulation has been damaged by the flood. Because insulation cannot be properly dried after a flood and maintain its R-value, any wet insulation must be replaced.

When your home floods, professional water restoration experts can ensure that you and your family stay healthy and your home stays insulated.

Storm Safety & Awareness

12/3/2020 (Permalink)

Flooding can occur during any season, but some areas of the country are at greater risk at certain times of the year. Coastal areas are at greater risk for flooding during hurricane season (i.e., June to November).  Flooding can occur in several ways, including the following.

EVACUATION

To avoid being trapped when floodwaters threaten your area, the best action to protect yourself and your family is to evacuate before flooding starts. Know and follow the directions from local officials for community evacuation or seek high ground for localized flooding. If you do not evacuate before the flooding occurs or you are trapped by flash flooding, do not enter flooded areas or moving water either on foot or in a vehicle, including areas that appear to have only inches of water. Protecting yourself today means having sources for information, preparing your home or workplace, developing an emergency communications plan, and knowing what to do when a flood is approaching your home or business. Taking action today can save lives and property. Know your flood risk.  Move costly possessions and important documents – shift valuables and electrical goods off the floor for their own protection, ideally upstairs. SERVPRO recommends the following steps to protect you, your family, and your home.

SERVPRO is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  Whether you need emergency flood damage restoration or top-to-bottom home cleaning, you can trust us to make your house feel like home again. We have the training, experience, and equipment to quickly get your home looking its best. 

Energy Saving Tips for the Colder Months

12/13/2019 (Permalink)

The strategies below will help you save energy, save money, and stay comfortable during the cool fall and cold winter months. Some of the tips below are free and can be used on a daily basis to increase your savings; others are simple and inexpensive actions you can take to ensure maximum savings through the South Arlington winter.

Take Advantage of Heat from the Sun

Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.

Cover Drafty Windows

Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration. Install tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.

Adjust the Temperature

When you are home and awake, set your thermostat as low as is comfortable. When you are asleep or out of the house, turn your thermostat back 10° to 15° for eight hours and save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills. If you have a heat pump, maintain a moderate setting or use a programmable thermostat specially designed for use with heat pumps.

Find and Seal Leaks

Seal the air leaks around utility cut-throughs for pipes ("plumbing penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets. Add caulk or weather stripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows.

Maintain Your Heating Systems

Replace your filter once a month or as needed for furnaces and heat pumps. Wood- and Pellet-Burning Heaters need to have the flue vent cleaned regularly and the inside of the appliance cleared out with a wire brush periodically to ensure that your building is heated efficiently.

Lower Your Water Heating Costs

Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F). You'll not only save energy, you'll avoid scalding your hands.

Spring Storm Safety in South Arlington

12/13/2019 (Permalink)

Be Aware of the Weather Conditions

The most important thing you can do is to stay aware of weather conditions in the areas that you will be traveling. Tune into the local radio stations, watch the weather channel, or go to weather-related websites that will cover the area along your route. Awareness is essential part of spring storm safety, not only during tornado season, but during the winter as well, when snow and ice can make the roads a serious danger. Staying informed of any potential for severe weather will help you plan a safe route.

Stay Out (or Get Out) of the Danger Zone

If you can, stay away from any potential dangerous weather by planning your route accordingly. If your route goes through an area that shows a potential for storms, check the map and find a route that helps you avoid the situation entirely. If your destination is in the area of the storm, see if you can leave early to miss the storm or wait it out until the potential for hazardous weather has passed. It may not always be possible, but being proactive and avoiding the hazardous conditions altogether is the best way to stay safe during storms and tornadoes.

Stay Away from Overpasses!

If you do find yourself in a storm, never go for the myth of hiding under an overpass. For years, drivers believed this is one of the best places to wait out a storm, but in fact it’s one of the worst. Overpasses can become wind-tunnels, interacting with a tornado to create even more powerful winds. Stay away from overpasses, whether you’re in your cab or on the ground. Which brings us to another topic: whether or not to leave your truck...

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

This topic is highly-debated among truckers in the industry. Some swear by staying in your cab, while others advocate leaving the truck and seeking low ground like a ditch or valley. It seems the best answer depends on the situation itself. Sometimes, it may be best to stay put and let the cab be your shelter, while other situations call for leaving the truck. However, if there is real shelter nearby, like a building or home, this option is always better than staying in your truck or hiding in a ditch.

Benefits of Staying in the Truck

Inside your cab, the truck will act as your shelter, protecting you from hail, lightning, and debris. Keep your seatbelt on, as this will protect you if the winds become strong enough to overturn your vehicle. You should also crouch below the line of the windshield to protect yourself from flying debris.

Benefits of Getting Out

Getting out and hiding in a ditch puts you below the strongest winds and flying debris. If winds hit your truck hard enough, it could overturn, in which case you will be thankful you’re not inside. If you choose to get out, make sure you are far enough away from the truck in case it is pushed over.

In the end, it really comes down to being informed and aware. The #1, undisputed spring storm safety tip for truckers is to avoid the severe weather altogether. Yes, you need to do your job and be a dependable trucker, but taking risks with your life just to make your delivery is simply not worth it.

No reasonable person will be upset with you because you chose to avoid severe weather. In fact, most people will applaud your regard for safety.

When Lightning Strikes in South Arlington

12/13/2019 (Permalink)

Each year thousands of home and other properties are destroyed or damaged by lightning strikes.

The first step to protecting your home is contacting a professional who is qualified to design and install a certified lightning protection system. It will be designed to control or force the discharge onto a specified path, thereby eliminating the chance of fire or explosion within non-conductive parts of the house such as those made of wood, brick, tile, etc. A lightning protection system is not intended to prevent a strike. Its purpose is to provide a safe path on which the current can be safely directed to the ground.

A typical lightning protection system

A complete system is made up of the following components:

Be Prepared if You're in a Flood Zone

12/13/2019 (Permalink)

When a Flood is Imminent

During a Flood

After a Flood

Hot Tips for Extreme Cold

12/13/2019 (Permalink)

Extreme cold weather can be hard on both you and your home. Here are some tips to put into practice when freezing weather, snow, and ice hit your area.

How to Deal with Frozen Pipes

Wind Storm Damage Prevention Tips

12/13/2019 (Permalink)

Severe weather is always on everyone’s radar, especially this time of the year. With severe weather comes strong winds, thunderstorms, and even hail. No matter the season, it never hurts to be aware of the damage that high winds can do to your home or business. Prevention is easy, just follow these three simple steps:

Keep outdoor items from becoming projectile weapons

High winds, tornadoes, and hurricanes can make something as simple as a trashcan or child’s toy into an airborne missile! When you hear of wind and storm warnings, make sure to bring in anything that could be picked up and blown into vulnerable areas of your home or business like windows or doors. Outdoor building such as storage sheds should also be anchored properly to the ground.

Reinforce susceptible areas

Garage doors are particularly susceptible to wind damage. High winds, tornadoes, and hurricanes can damage or blow them, creating a high-pressure situation which can damage the roof as well. Reinforce the door by using braces across the back or replace with a stronger door and tracks. Modifications should be done by an installer.

Pay attention to your trees and landscaping

Trees can cause debris that can damage your home in a windstorm. Maintain trees having them trimmed and debris raked and disposed of regularly to help minimize damage from a storm. If the recent storm has passed and you have damage to your home or business, Jenkins Restorations is here to help. We make the process of getting back into your home and back to your normal life a pain-free process.

What to do After a Winter Storm

12/18/2018 (Permalink)

You might be ready for the next winter storm, but after it hits, what is next?

Here are some tips:

• Continue listening to local news for updated information and instructions. Access to some parts of the community may be limited or roads may be blocked.
• Avoid driving and other travel until conditions have improved.
• Avoid overexertion. Heart attacks from shoveling heavy snow are a leading cause of death during the winter.
• Check on your animals and ensure that their access to food and water is unimpeded by drifted snow, ice, or other obstacles.
• If you are using a portable generator, take precautions against carbon monoxide poisoning, electrocution and fire.

Frostbite and hypothermia are cold-related emergencies that may quickly become life or limb threatening.

Take these steps to avoid frostbite and hypothermia:

• Be aware of the wind chill. Dress appropriately and avoid staying in the cold too long. Wear a hat and gloves when appropriate with layers of clothing. Avoid unnecessary exposure of any part of the body to the cold.
• Drink plenty of warm fluids or warm water but avoid caffeine and alcohol. Stay active to maintain body heat.
• Take frequent breaks from the cold.
• Get out of the cold immediately if the signals of hypothermia or frostbite appear.

How to Prepare for a Winter Storm

12/18/2018 (Permalink)

Winter is here! Now is the time to prepare so that you are ready when snow storms hit.

Here are some helpful tips:

Consider buying emergency heating equipment, such as a wood or coal burning stove or an electric or kerosene heater.

Storm Emergency Kit

12/18/2018 (Permalink)

Spring is the time of year when many things change—including the weather. Temperatures can swing back and forth between balmy and frigid. Sunny days may be followed by a week of stormy weather. Sometimes extreme weather changes can occur even within the same day.

Thunderstorms cause most of the severe spring weather. They can bring lightning, tornadoes, and flooding. Whenever warm, moist air collides with cool, dry air, thunderstorms can occur.

Because spring weather is so unpredictable, you may be unprepared when severe weather hits—particularly if you live in a region that does not often experience thunderstorms, tornadoes, or flooding. And when severe weather hits unexpectedly, the risk of injury and death increases. So planning ahead makes sense; prepare for storms, floods, and tornadoes as if you know in advance they are coming, because in the spring, they very likely will.

Advance planning for thunderstorms, lightning, tornadoes, and floods requires specific safety precautions.

Keep an emergency kit on hand.

Some items to include are:

Tornado Watch Vs Warning

12/18/2018 (Permalink)

During recent years, the spate of historic severe weather systems, flooding and tornadoes affecting much of the Nation has impacted rural America significantly. A storm is any disturbed state of an environment or astronomical body's atmosphere especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather.

Tornado Watch - Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Review and discuss your emergency plans, and check supplies and your safe room. Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching. Acting early helps to save lives!

Tornado Warning - A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Tornado warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property. Go immediately under ground to a basement, storm cellar or an interior room (closet, hallway or bathroom).

Hurricane Preparedness in Northern Virginia

12/18/2018 (Permalink)

WHAT IS A HURRICANE?

Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over warm ocean waters and move toward land. Potential threats from hurricanes include powerful winds, heavy rainfall, storm surges, coastal and inland flooding, rip currents, tornadoes, and landslides. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The Pacific hurricane season runs May 15 to November 30. Hurricanes:

IF YOU ARE UNDER A HURRICANE WARNING, FIND SAFE SHELTER RIGHT AWAY

Prepare NOW

Summer Storm Safety

12/18/2018 (Permalink)

Summer arrived with greenery and colorful flowers. However, the season can also bring severe weather. The American Red Cross wants everyone to know what steps they can take to stay safe if dangerous weather is predicted for their community.

TORNADOES 

Summer can be the peak season for tornado activity. Tornadoes occur mostly on warm days between 3:00 and 9:00 p.m. However, tornadoes can occur anywhere, at any time of the year, at any time of the day. The Red Cross has safety steps people should take now to be ready if a tornado warning is issued for someone’s neighborhood:

THUNDERSTORMS 

Thunderstorms are most likely to happen in the spring and summer, during the afternoon and evening. However, like tornadoes, they can happen anywhere, at any hour of the day. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which kills more people every year that tornadoes or hurricanes. The Red Cross has steps you can take if a thunderstorm is predicted for your area:

FLOODING 

Summer can be a time of year for flooding. Communities in the Midwest and south have already seen floodwaters inundate neighborhoods. Snow melt and heavy spring rains fill rivers and streams and flooding can occur. Flash floods occur suddenly when water rises rapidly along a stream or low-lying area. People should be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice and head for higher ground when a flood or flash flood warning is issued. Other safety steps include