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Hurricane season's heating up~Isaac may track to Eastchester NY 10709

By
Home Builder with Servpro of Scarsdale / Mount Vernon Fire/Water Certified

All eyes are on Isaac that could track north up the East Coast to Eastchester, NY 10709


Hurricane Isaac is on his way... 

hurricane isaac flood water damage coast wind emergency services eastchester ny 10709


...and most professional projections for the track of this "tropical cyclone" show a path that could track over -- when our amazing crews worked 20 hour days / 20 days straight to dry out flooded homes, businesses and even fire stations throughout Westchester County, NY.


hurricane isaac flood water damage coast wind emergency services eastchester ny 10709A year ago, almost to the day, Hurricane Irene swung our way and came north to Westchester County, with a vengeance.  She was slowing down to wind speeds below 70 mph, from the Category 1 version that hit New Jersey.  But, wind and water damage to homes and businesses in and near Eastchester, NY 10709 were historic!  Property damage was in the millions, even to our public buildings.


Irene was a large and really destructive hurricane that affected most of the Caribbean and U.S. coastal areas from the Carolinas through our Mid-Atlantic area in Westchester County -- and, all the way up to Maine!  She was the fifth most costly U.S. hurricane on record -- translating to a LOT of home, business and other property damage up the East Coast.  


hurricane isaac flood water damage coast wind emergency services eastchester ny 10709With Tropical Storm Isaac bearing down on Florida and some projections taking him north in a similar track to Irene, we need to "keep a weather eye on the horizon," as pilots say.  Forrest and I were actually both small craft pilots in an earlier life, before moving home to Westchester and opening our local biz.



Isaac is projected to head towards Florida and seems to be taking a left turn into the Gulf of Mexico.  But, our National Hurricane Center in Miami has forecast moldels that show Isaac going West and hooking north by northeast over Florida by next Monday.  There is a lot of uncertainty, especially if this counter clockwise storm ramps up to a Category 1 and it's "dark side" passes over Tampa, where the Republican National Convention takes place next week.  


Things to be aware of in the event of a hurricane -- we should ALL have a hurricane / storm action plan in place in the Coastal Areas of Westchester County NY:

Planning to take action:

1. Check the status of the hurricanes impact zones and projected land fall.

2.    If you live in a coastal area along the Long Island Sound or the Hudson River, be sure to check on whether or not your home or business is in harms way of a storm surge, any wind hazards and your town's flooding zones.  Remember, the Hudson is tidal and the water rises and falls north of the Tappan S

3.    Use the National Weather Service website also known as the NWC or National Weather Center, for the most recent reports and accurate Hurricane updates.

4.    The NWC also provides pertinent information for learning, resources, and preparedness.

5.    Contact your local & state government National Weather Service offices, to learn about what to do for evacuations in your geographic location, or in the event that a power or other emergency comes up & you need to take effective action. Most have a website with evacuation maps and emergency plans posted.

6.    FEMA.gov is a highly informative website as well, and you can visit it for further info about action plans to take for you and your loved ones during, or after a storm makes landfall.

7.   Make sure to have emergency contact numbers in place in the event you lose power, and wireless connectivity to all communications devices during and after the storm.

8.    Use the FloodSmart website to rate your proximity to flood zones & all potential flood risks.

9.  Place important documents in plastic, sealed bags, along with some cash (ATMs lose power too), insurance papers and special paperwork like passports, wedding certificates and other one-of-a-kinds.


Then, we have Joyce following Isaac into our hemisphere by early next week.  Tropical Storm Joyce is expected to take a right turn next Tuesday and head north to Bermuda and beyond, missing the U.S. completely, as of this morning (8/23/12).  If either Tropical Storms Isaac or Joyce were to become large enough storms and head to the Northeast, you should have a plan for your family and / or your business and staff.  Irene led to some coastal evacuations and warnings, so in these cases, you should plan for delays on major roads from the coast or riverfront in the Hudson Rivertowns, and know multiple evacuation routes,


hurricane isaac flood water damage coast wind emergency services eastchester ny 10709

 

You can check the best evacuation routes, normally provided by disaster agencies and your city government and Westchester Countyk, plus was should always have a local map in the car or with us in such cases.  If you are evacuating in multiple vehicles, make sure to discuss places to meet along your route, in case you get separated.

 

What will you do with your pets, in case of storm damage in this or any other Hurricane Season -- that lasts June 1 to Nov 30, but really heats up in late August through mid-September?  Will you take your pets with you, or to a shelter?  Know the answer beforehand.  We have two hundred pound German Shepherds and a car unfriendly cat, so you may have the issues we do with transportation.

 

Make a goodies bag and/or ice chest with food and drinks ahead of severe storms, so you don't have to leave home, or make frequent stops in an evacuation.  

 

Whether you are set on evacuating from coastal towns like Larchmont or Mamaroneck, or "riding it out," make sure to keep your vehicles full of gas in the days leading up to storm's landfall.  If you stay in your home or a shelter through the storm, often gas is difficult to transport into the area after a hurricane has done its damage and could be hard to acquire, due to power outages.  Also, do not drive in to standing water, especially on our parkways like the Bronx River or the Hutch because it could take your vehicle off of the road.  

 

LAST - MAKE A HURRICANE OR STORM SURVIVAL KIT:  If you decide to stay in your home during A summer hurricane like Isaac, or a winter storm with power outages, make sure you make a Survival Kit. Most of the  Kit can be put together and stored well in advance of any storm.

The kit should include:

  • At least a full gallon of water per person per day for 7 days.
  • An assortment of non-perishable foods, like canned food, snack foods and energy bars for 7 days
  • Hand-can opener, paper plates, paper cups, plastic utensils
  • First aid supplies
  • Proper clothing (rain coats and boots)
  • Special needs food for babies, your elderly relatives and your pets (if applicable)
  • Toilet Paper, Moisture wipes, Hygiene products
  • Multiple flashlights 
  • Battery-operated radio and/or TV
  • Multiple sets of batteries for flashlights, radio, TV and other needs
  • Fun activities for the kids that don't require electricity -- like games, cards, puzzles...

I'll have other helpful tips for hurricane prep in the next few days, as I've been through a few on Disaster Response teams in the past.  We helped about five states prepare for and recover from hurricanes like Isabel and Ivan in the mid-2000s.  Happy to share.

 


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Hurricanes can cause flooding and one may hit us again this year in Eastchester, NY 10709

Posted by

____________________________________________________________________________________

Hillary Sheperdfire water mold cleaning restoration flood soot puffback scarsdale mount vernon, ny

Vice President / Co-Owner, 

Servpro of Scarsdale /Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon, NY  10550

914-669-5181

Servpro of Scarsdale / Mount Vernon

Flood, fire, mold remediation

Comments (3)

Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Hi Hillary, thanks for the hurricane warnings-hard to believe that my sonogram of my 27 year old son looked exactly like the photo of Hurricane Isaac! LOL-Stay dry!

Aug 23, 2012 08:54 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Hi Hill.  Good talking to you today and thanks for keeping us apprised for Hurricane Isaac and the great tips.

Aug 23, 2012 09:29 AM
Hillary Sheperd
Servpro of Scarsdale / Mount Vernon - Scarsdale, NY
Co-Owner ~ Servpro of Scarsdale / Mount Vernon, NY

Joanne, you are so funny with the sonogram, funny how those images are like Roschak's ink drawings the shrinks use.  Hysterical.  Hope all stay dry, but if their homes or biz's are wet, we hope they'll call us for structural drying and mold prevention, right?

 

THanks Debbie and you're so welcome.  Trying to put tips out there so our Westchester neighbors can stay safe.  Evacuations are rare, but coastal towns on the Sound like Larchmont and Mamaroneck could have storm surge.  We'll call you, if anyone needs carpet or flooring, of course!!

Aug 24, 2012 01:02 AM