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PLANNING FOR WINTER AND SEVERE WEATHER OR DISASTERS

By
Real Estate Agent with Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate 303829;0225082372

Not all areas of the US have the severe winters of the far northern areas of the United States, but all thing being relative, it isn't always where you are, it's how prepared are you??

  isabel  Hurricane season is over for this year, but winter is coming.

Although Hurricane season is over for this year, winter is coming and the time to be prepared is NOW, or sooner rather than later. 

FAMILY DISASTER PLANNING

Home owners are seldom faced with disasters such as the type experienced by Louisana residents with Katrina; the tornados that wreck havoc with the midwest, floods in the south and southwest, severe cold spells experienced by households in the far northern areas of the country, forest and brush fires in the dryer parts of the Rocky Mountain areas and the west coast and hurricane damages in the golf and southern states along the Atlantic Coast.

However, we are all subject to natural disasters in some ways no matter where we live.  Many East Coast and Golf area home owners experience severe rain damage following the remnants of hurricanes moving up from the Carribean or the Atlantic Ocean. Many may see severe cold winds that cause electrical outages for several days. We have seen wind damage to many of the older mature trees along our streets that disrupt traffic, electric supply, roofs damaged and other assorted problems. Long electric outages are probably one of the worst problems in most areas, especially in the older areas communities where overhead electrical supply lines are still as they were 50 years ago.  So, planning for any type of disaster can save time, money and lives.

FAMILY DISASTER PREPARATION KIT.   BE PREPARED WITH A DISASTER KIT FOR YOUR HOME.

We suggest purchasing a large plastic trash can or bin and stock it with the following:

FOOD FOR THE FAMILY
* Water stored in plastic containers. A three day supply is recommended.  The stores will sell out of water long before a disaster hits. 

* Cans of food that can be eaten without cooking, beans, fruits, vegetables, meats, juices, milk, formula. Yes, you can buy bottled coffee today. Tea will seep into cold water with time. Don't forget to include a can opener.

* Quick snacks for the children and hard working adults; peanut butter, crackers, granola bars, trail mixes and/or raisins and nuts.

* Baby food if needed, special diet food for folks who require it in their diets.

FIRST AID KIT
* Rather than stock a first aid kit with supplies, these can be purchased at your local Pharmacy, ready to go with sterile supplies.

* Miscellaneous items: safety pins, latex gloves, sunscreen, toothbrushes and tooth paste.

* Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever, antacid, anti-diarrhea medication, Ipecac, activated charcoal (can be purchased at pharmacies) prescription medication.

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES
* Paper dishes, utensils, paper cup, paper towels, disposable baby bottles.

* Flashlight(s), batteries, batteries, batteries and more batteries, matches.

* Battery operated radio/TV and LOTS OF BATTERIES.  The batteries will last much longer if the audio is used and the picture used sparingly. 

* Favorite toys for the little ones.

* Tools: pliers, duct tape, compass, signal flare, pencil paper, wrench, plastic sheeting, toilet paper, towelettes, soap, feminine supplies, plastic bags, bucket with tight lid, disinfectant, bleach.

CLOTHING AND SLEEPING SUPPLIES
* Boots, rain gear, blankets or sleeping bags, caps, gloves, extra underwear and diapers.

Gas-up BEFORE disaster strikes.  Avoid driving around looking at damaged areas.  Gasoline may be short and families should conserve what supply they have in their vehicle in case of an emergency. 

IMPORTANT FINANCIAL LEGAL DOCUMENTS
It is recommended that home owners use a watertight container to store the following important document. * Wills, insurance policies, stocks and bonds, passports, immunization records, credit card account umbers/vendors, important telephone numbers, birth certificates, death certificates. The deed to your home can be included, but is seldom used because there is a records at the county land records if needed and will be found by an abstractor if you sell real estate or borrow equity.

KEEP ALL OF THE ABOVE IN A LARGE, EASY TO CARRY CONTAINER.

Finally, it's a good idea to locate the county dumps to disgard trash and debris.  Normal trash collection may be suspended for some number of days and garbage collecting could draw insects and rodents. 

Thoughts from the writer, Lenn Harley, following Hurricane Isabel in 2003
Portable TVs eat batteries rapidly.
Cold canned veggies are quite good if you're hungry enough.
Manual can openers are tough on old bones.
Neighbors help each other out when disaster strikes.

Stay safe and comfy.   12/15/2006

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Comments (1)

Gerhard Ade
eXp Realty - Seattle, WA
What sets me apart, will set you apart.
Ade HouseThanks, Lenn! We lost power on the 14th so your post was just a bit too late to heed your good advice. The power is being restored block by block and is edging closer to our home. Now I am in an independent coffee shop in Woodinville, WA, having coffee with my wife and son who has just returned from college in Chicago. Have a good weekend!
Dec 16, 2006 03:37 AM