Staying Prepared During Hurricane Season
How to Protect Your Home & Family Hurricane season has arrived in Florida, lasting from June 1st - November 30th, it's crucial to stay ahead of the game and take proactive measures to prepare for any potential storms. Ensuring the safety of your home and family requires early planning and awareness. By taking steps now, you can significantly reduce risks and be better equipped to handle any challenges that come our way this season. Here's some essential tips and resources to help you get ready. From securing your property to creating an emergency plan, these steps will help keep you and your loved ones safe throughout the season. Let’s face this hurricane season together with confidence and peace of mind. Stay prepared and stay safe! Develop an Emergency Plan Before hurricane season arrives, create a comprehensive emergency plan for your household. Discuss evacuation routes, designate a safe room within your home, and establish a communication plan to keep your family connected during the storm. Keep important documents, such as insurance policies and identification, in a waterproof and easily accessible place. Prepare Emergency Kit Your kit should include supplies you may need at home as well as a "go kit" if you must evacuate quickly. Include items members of your family may need for several days, including essential supplies such as non-perishable food, drinking water, flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, medications, and important documents. Make sure to include Keep in an accessible location. Don't forget supplies for your pet too! Check Insurance Coverage & Polices Ensure your homeowners' insurance policy provides adequate coverage for potential hurricane-related damages. Review the terms, limitations, and exclusions. Get flood insurance, as standard policies often exclude it. National Flood Insurance Program covers actions to reduce pre-flood damage. Back Up Important Documents Make sure your insurance policies and personal documents, like IDs, are up to date. Make copies and keep them in a secure password protected digital space. It's not too late to create a plan with your family. Visit Ready.gov/plan and use the new "Make a Plan" fillable form to walk you through all the steps to begin your plan and then easily save an electronic copy, or share with other family members. Secure Your Home Check Your Roof: Schedule an inspection for any loose or damaged shingles, tiles, or flashing. A roof is the most vulnerable place during a hurricane. Secure Windows and Doors: Install storm shutters or impact-resistant windows to protect against flying debris and high winds. Reinforce doors with deadbolts or hurricane-resistant entry systems (including your garage). Check Drainage System: Clear debris from gutters, downspouts, and drainage systems. Yard Maintenance Trim trees and remove dead branches to minimize the risk of falling limbs during high winds. Secure outdoor furniture, grills, and other loose items by either bringing them indoors or anchoring them securely. Move potted plants and lightweight garden decor to a safe area. Check on Neighbors As you prepare your family and loved ones for a disaster, check on neighbors and folks in your community. See if they need assistance with preparing their home and provide these tips with them to help ensure they're safe. Exchange contact information to stay in touch during the storm. Stay Informed Monitor weather updates and stay informed about approaching storms through local news, emergency alerts, and official channels. Follow evacuation orders if necessary, and never underestimate the power and unpredictability of a hurricane. Your safety and that of your loved ones should always be the top priority. Download the FEMA app for live updates. Get more information through Ready.gov Learn Now Committed to Keeping Your Home Safe, Always. Jax Luxe Group Real Estate Advisors Lindsy Norse & Caroline Knight Licensed Real Estate Advisors Engel & Völkers First Coast 190 A1A N Suite 1 I Ponte Vedra Beach I FL 32082 904-437-9186 & 904-962-1990 [email protected] | jaxluxegroup.evrealestate.com
Winterize Your Home: A Guide To Help Prepare For The Winter Season
As the temperature drops, it’s a sign that it’s almost time to prepare your home for the upcoming winter season. Taking proactive steps to protect your home from the harsh winter elements can save you money on energy bills, prevent damage, and ensure a warm and cozy living environment. In this guide, we’ll cover essential tasks to ensure you’re ready for the winter season: Indoor Winter Preparations Protect Your Pipes and Insulate Insulating your pipes is a critical necessity in home preparation for winter weather. Frozen pipes can lead to costly repairs and water damage. Insulate exposed pipes in unheated areas of your home, such as the attic, basement, and garage. Use pipe insulation sleeves to keep them warm. In addition to insulating your pipes, sealing windows and doors is also important. Drafty windows and doors can significantly increase your heating bills. Sealing any gaps or cracks with weatherstripping or caulk can combat this problem. For windows, consider using window film or heavy curtains to improve insulation. Prep the Fireplace A chimney inspection can save you time and hassle when preparing for the winter months. Before lighting the first fire of the season, have your chimney inspected and cleaned by a professional. Creosote buildup can lead to chimney fires. Be sure to stock up on firewood. Ensure you have a sufficient supply of seasoned firewood that is stored in a dry place away from the house to prevent pests from making their winter home in your logs. Lastly, if not tended to properly, fireplaces can pose many safety hazards. Installing or inspecting smoke and carbon monoxide detectors near your fireplace can ensure catching any problems before it is too late. Have a fire extinguisher nearby, and teach your family members how to use it. Stock Up on Winter Necessities Preparing for the winter season can mean a whole lot of things – one of the most important being stocking up on necessities to ensure you and your family stay warm, healthy and prepared for any scenario. Swapping out your shorts and bathing suits can create space for new winter apparel. Warm clothing, including coats, hats, gloves, and scarves can keep you warm as temperatures decline. Don’t forget warm socks and boots for extra protection against the cold. Stocking up on winter emergency kits can also help you to prepare in case of emergency. This includes essentials like flashlights, batteries, blankets, non-perishable food, and a first-aid kit. Be ready for power outages and unexpected winter storms. Outdoor Winter Preparations Clean out the Gutters Be sure to clean out the gutters before it gets too cold. Clogged gutters can lead to ice dams, which can cause water damage to your home. Clean out leaves, debris, and make sure downspouts are clear to allow proper drainage. Prune and Trim Your Outdoor Plants Trimming your shrubs, bushes, hedges and pruning trees can prevent various hazardous issues during the cold months. Overgrown branches can become hazardous when weighed down by ice or snow. Prune them back to prevent damage to your home and ensure safety. Take In Your Outdoor Furniture Outdoor furniture and appliances are not cheap – but avoidable repairs are even more expensive. Store outdoor furniture, cushions, and grills in a dry, covered area or a garage. This helps extend their lifespan and prevents them from getting damaged by winter weather. Winter-proofing your home is a proactive approach to ensure your family’s comfort and safety during the cold months. Don’t wait until the first snowfall – start your preparations now for a cozy and stress-free winter season.
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