Tips To Prepare For Nor`easters and Severe Storms

As we all know far too well, a multi-faceted coastal storm with heavy rain and dangerous winds can be disastrous to anyone living along the coast or waterways of Long Island. Anyone who spends any length of time on Long Island knows that Nor'easters can be the most dangerous of these storms, particularly in terms of flooding and water damage.

Over the years we have seen Nor'easters cause more damage than even Hurricanes so as a Home Owner it makes sense to be ready for them and follow some of basic preventative tips. Jared Struss of JS Services Inc. has been in the business for over 12 years and has been called out far too many times to repair the water damage caused by storms. This experience has lead Jared to some solid tips to protect your home next time a Nor'easter hits Long Island. ..

To protect against the hazard of high winds, New Yorkers should implement some of these helpful tips below provided by JS Services Inc., your Long Island Mold remediation company. It is so important to have a plan to prevent serious property damage that we know can happen during these powerful storms. These are practical tips that if followed will help keep what is most important to you-The Safety of Your Family and Loved Ones

Safety Tips We Will Cover:
-Check the area immediately surrounding your home
-Bring inside any loose, lightweight objects
-Anchor down heavier objects
-Close up areas
-Check rooftop and remove items if necessary
-Use caution when walking or driving
-Stand clear of Dangerous Areas
-Avoid elevated areas
-Watch for flying debris.
-Checklist of things to do in the house

-Keep your pipes warm.
-Avoid ice-dam damage.
-Protect the outside of your house.
-Check your roof
-Don’t hire strangers going door-to-door offering to shovel roofs
-Keep two emergency kits.
-Buy a carbon-monoxide detector
-Consider a generator.

The safest place to be during high winds is indoors. Postpone outdoor activities if there is a wind advisory or high wind warning. These storms usually have driving rain along with high winds that can push the water further inland increasing the probability of water being a hazard that can cause serious damage. Listen to see if Storm Warnings/Alerts have been issued for your area.

High winds can bring down trees and power lines and can turn unsecured objects into dangerous projectiles. To protect against the hazard of high winds, New Yorkers should:

-Check the area immediately surrounding your home for unsecured objects or potentially dangerous conditions. Tree limbs, garbage cans, yard debris, or other materials that can be moved by the wind are potential projectiles aimed at your home or parked vehicle.

Search the yard and around the house to bring inside loose, lightweight objects such as lawn furniture, tools, potted plants, garbage cans, garden tools and toys.

-Anchor heavier objects that would be unsafe outside, such as gas grills or propane tanks.
-Close up and secure patio umbrellas plus furniture.
-Secure retractable awnings because this can easily break due to high winds.

-Remove any aerial antennas and satellite television dishes on the roof or side of the home.

-Avoid anything that may be touching downed lines, this includes vehicles or tree branches. Puddles and even wet ground can conduct electricity in some cases. So avoid downed lines and the areas surrounding these lines because they can prove to be very dangerous or life threatening.

-Watch for flying debris during the storm. Flying debris is a major issue during the stream and can cause bodily injury. Tree limbs may break and other objects may become loose during strong wind gusts and driving rain or snow.

-Before any storm it is vital to check your emergency supply kits. Build or restock your emergency supply kits, including a flashlight, batteries, a couple days’ worth of food and water, cash, and first aid supplies to deal with minor injuries.

-Charge your cell phones and any other battery-powered devices. Get car chargers and battery chargers as backups for your devices.

-If possible invest in a gas powered generator which comes in handy if you lose power. During a bad Nor’easter it is likely you will lose power for a couple hours or days.

-Good ideas to turn your refrigerator and freezer to a colder setting to make the food inside last longer during a storm. If you lose power, items that need refrigeration will stay cooler for longer. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to prevent food spoilage if you lose power. Also, make sure you have an ample supply of food that you can prepare if the power goes out.

-Check on friends, relatives, and neighbors, especially older adults and people with disabilities who may need immediate attention. They may need access to immediate medical care and have functional needs, or health conditions. Help them to prepare before the storm hits because they will need constant supervision.

-If you lose power and have a disability or access and functional needs, or use Life Sustaining Equipment (LSE) and need immediate assistance, please call 911.

Here are some Common Sense tips you are driving during periods of high winds:

-New Yorkers are encouraged to call 911 to report emergencies at construction sites or buildings. New Yorkers who suspect a building or property has been structurally compromised should call 911. Be aware of construction projects and buildings in your surrounding areas. These can pose serious risks to your property and Home. So please be aware of Construction Projects within a 3 block radius of your home. Flying debris can prove to be dangerous for multiple blocks. So be aware of neighbor’s properties and items in the yards.

Additional wind guidance from the NYC Department of Buildings (This Department is a great resource):

Be aware of construction sites, builders, contractors, and developers who are building in your area. Make sure there area is secure so these items do not pose a risk to you or your neighbors.

Coastal Flooding Preparations Which Includes Most of Long Island:

NYC residents living in coastal areas expected to experience minor coastal flooding should take the following preparedness steps:

-Prepare a Go Bag that you can grab in case you need to leave your home in a hurry. A Go Bag is a pre-packed bag used when you need to evacuate your home quickly when an emergency arises. While gathering your emergency kit, pack a go-bag for each family member and pet if necessary. Each Go Bag should include items like lifesaving prescriptions, food, water, extra clothing, and any other items you deem a necessity to get you through the first few critical days. Go-Bags for Pets should include a strong leash, food, water, toys, and any medicines. Remember, a pet is a member of the family and may require special attention in an unfamiliar surroundings.

-Learn the safest route from your home or workplace to safe, high ground in case you have to evacuate quickly in case of an Emergency like a . This should be Nor’easters part of your household emergency plan. Practice and run drills.

-If you live in Long Island there are many flood-susceptible areas, that are subject to heavy rains, power outages, and strong gusts that usually hit the same areas, structures, trees, and buildings. Beware of the softening of the ground around trees where roots can come up and cause large trees to cause serious damage. Spend extra time `,It makes sense to have a written safety plan and practice with your family so there is a level of comfort with plan and the role reach is supposed to play. Our Motto is it is Better To be Safe then not prepared at all when a true emergency hits the area quickly. Also, it is a good idea to have decided upon a central point of contact - a person outside of the area - in the event that all family members are not at home at the time of an evacuation. This friend or relative will be able to relay messages in the event of power and phone service outages.

Keep materials, like sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting, and lumber, on hand to help protect your home. These are good materials to have in you live in area that experiences Nor'easters.

-Beware, moving water is dangerous. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving or use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.

-Stay out of any building if it is surrounded by floodwaters. Floodwaters can damage the structure and integrity of the structure.

-When outside, avoid walking and driving through flooded areas. As little as six inches of water can be dangerous. Moving water can knock a person over. Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, which cause loss of control and possible stalling. One or two feet of water can carry away a vehicle and a person.

-Keep your pipes warm. Some of the most expensive winter damage can come from bursting pipes. Even if the rest of your house is warm, the water in the pipes that are in your attic, basement, crawlspace and in the back of cabinets can freeze. Cover the pipes with insulation in the cold parts of your house and open kitchen and bathroom cabinets this will allow warm air to circulate around the pipes. Let water drip slowly from the faucets to help keep the water flowing.

-Avoid ice-dam damage. Ice Dams are another cause of winter damage. This will occur when the heat inside your house causes water to melt in the middle of your roof and it then refreezes near the edges, this creates a dam that can lead to leaks in your roof and damage to your ceilings and walls. Look for icicles hanging from your roof, this may be a sign that ice dams are forming. To help protect against ice dams, keep your attic cold -- no more than 5 to 10 degrees warmer than the outside temperature -- make sure you seal holes from light fixtures and ceiling fans to prevent warm air from escaping into your attic.

-Protect the outside of your house by taking the time to clean your gutters so water doesn’t back up and freeze. Check all downspouts to make sure water will be diverted away from your house. Trim any low-hanging tree branches that can freeze, become brittle, snap and damage your home or power lines. Use weather-stripping or caulk to seal drafty windows and doors. Disconnect all garden hoses.

-Check your roof. Snow accumulating can cause major issues. If a lot of snow accumulates, your roof could collapse -- especially flat roofs and the roofs over porches/additions. You shouldn’t have a problem with average snow amounts or very dry snow. Heavy or wet snow can cause problems if it starts to build up. Use a roof rake with a long handle so you can remove packed snow while you are on the ground. Going on the roof to shovel it yourself could damage the roof and is very dangerous since it cause to injury to human beings.

-Don’t hire strangers going door-to-door offering to shovel roofs. Consider using a profession contractor before a big snowstorm hits. Ask your neighbor for recommendations.

-Keep two emergency kits, one for your home and one for your car. In case the power goes out which can happen in any, Nor'easters stock flashlights, extra batteries, a battery-powered radio and, and have a car charger in your vehicle so you can power your cell phone and other electronics. Have extra cash on hand because there are always issues with the ATM during storms. The Red Cross also recommends stocking a three-day supply of food and water for everyone in your house, a first-aid kit and a seven-day supply of medications. Have extra food for your pets since they are a member of your family.

-Every home should have a carbon-monoxide detector. One of the biggest winter dangers is carbon-monoxide poisoning, caused by improper ventilation of furnaces, generators, charcoal-burning or propane-burning devices, or wood-burning stoves. We recommend keeping a carbon-monoxide detector on all floors of your home.

-Consider a generator. You may not have time to buy a generator before this weekend’s storm, but it’s something you should consider for longer-term preparations for the rest of the winter. A generator is a must during Nor'easters which can help keep your heat and power -- as well as your sump pump, and your fire and burglar alarms -- running. A Generator can help prevent frozen pipes and provide comfort during the harsh winter storms. An automatic standby generator, which immediately turns on after a power outage, may qualify you for a discount on your homeowners insurance, too.

For more advice about protecting your home from storms, see DisasterSafety.org, especially the map where you can see the main disaster risks you face by zip code. Also see the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes site and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s winter storms page.

Please contact JS Service Inc. Holbrook, NY by calling our office at (631) 862-6288 or by email at jared@jsfirefloodmold.com if you experience any water, fire or mold damage to your home or office. We provide personalized emergency service to customers experiencing fire, flood and mold problems. We service residential and commercial property - no size project is too big or too small. We pride ourselves on establishing on-going relationships with homeowners, caretakers and property managers especially on the East End of Long Island