Power Outages

Before a Power outage...

• Register life-sustaining and medical equipment with your utility company
• Consider buying a genrator. when installing a genrator, follow the instructions carefully. Keep your generator outside adn run a card inside. Don't connect your generator to main service panels - It's dangerous!
• Make sure your disaster preparedness it contains light sticks, flashlights, a battery powered radio with extra batteries and a wind-up clock.
• Have a corded telephone available - cordless phones will not work when the power is out.
• Have an alternative heat source and supply of fuel.
• If you own an electric garage door opener, know how to open the door without power

During a power outage...

• Turn off lights adn electrical appliances except for teh refrigerator and freezer. Even if it is dark, turn light switches and buttons on lamps or appliances to the "off" position. Leave one lamp on so you will know when power is restored. Wait at least 15 minutes after power is restored before turning on other appliances.
• Unplug computers and other sensitive equipment to protect them from possible surges whne the power is restored
• Converse water, especially if you use well water.
• Never use gas ovens, gas ranges, barbeques or propane heaters for indoor heating - they use oxygen and create carbon monoxide that can cause suffocation
• Using a kerosene heater, gas lantern or stove inside the house can be dangerous. Maintain proper ventilation at all times to avoid a buildup of toxic fumes
• Candles can cause a fire. It is far better to use battery - operated flashlights or glow sticks for lighting
• Stay away from downed power lines and sagging trees with broken limbs

Keep food safe...

• Use and store food carefully to prevent food-borne illness when power outages make refrigeration unavailable.
• Use foods first that can spoil most rapidly
• Keep doors to refrigerators and freezers closed. Your refrigerator's freezer will keep food frozen for up to a day. A seperate fully loaded freezer will keep food frozen for two days
• Use and ice chest packed with ice to keep food cold. Buy dry ice to save frozen food. Do not handle dry ice with your bare hands. Use blocks or bags of ice to save refrigerator foods
• Use caution if storing food outside during winter to keep it cold. The outside temprature varies, expecially in the sun. Frozen food may thaw and refrigerator food may become warm enough to grow bacteria. Food stored outside must be secured from contamination by animals
• If in doubt, throw it out. Throw out meat, seafood, dairy products and cooked food that does not feel cold
• Never taste suspect food. Even if food looks and smells fine, illness-causing bacteria may be present.
  

Tips for Avoiding and handling Household Fires

Fires in homes are most often caused by cooking accidents, smoking and unsafe use of woodstoves and space heaters. Here are some things you can do to avoid a home fire or protect yourself during a fire

Protecting against fires..

• Install smoke detectors in or near all sleeping areas and on every level of your home, including basement. Check smoke detectors on a regular basis and replace the batteries twice yearly
• Obtain A-B-C type fire extinguishers and store them in a visible, easy-to-access location. Teach family members how to use them
• Know the location of all exits including windows. If you live in an apartment, count the number of doorways between your apartment and two nearest exits
• Know two ways out of every room in case smoke or flames block your primary exit
• Choose a meeting place outside the home, and be sure all family members are accounted for. If someone is missing, let the fire department know
• Develop an escape plan and practise it with your family. This will help ensure you can get out quickly when there is no time for mistakes
• Keep folding or chain style ladders stored in each upstairs bedroom
• Use alternative heat sources, such as woodstoves or space heaters, safely
• Before using an alternative heat source, read the manufacturer's instructions
• Never use gas ovens, gas ranges, barbeques, or most portable or propane heaters for indoor heating
• Have fire-fighting materials available: dry powder, fire extinguisher, heavy trap or balnket and water
• Do not smoke in the bedroom, on the couch or anywhere you might fall asleep while smoking
• Sleep with your bedroom door closed.
• Make sure your house number is clearly visible from the street and that fire trucks can reach your home

If fire strikes...

• If there is a fire --- EVACUATE. Do not go back inside. Call 9-1-1 from a neighbour's house
• Never use water on an electrical fire.
• Smother oil and grease fires in the kitchen with baking soda or salt, or put a lid over the flame if it is burning in a pan.
• If caught in a smoke --- Drop your hands and knees and crawl; breathe shallowly through your nose an use your blouse, shirt or jacket as a filter
• If you must move through the flames--- hold your breathe, move quickly, cover your head and hair, keep your head down and close your eyes as much as possible
• If your clothes catch fire, STOP, DROP & ROLL, unitll the fire is out
• If you are in a room and cannot escape, leave the door closed, stay low to the floor and hang a white or light colored sheet outside the window
  

Insurance Tips for Hurricane

Pre-Storm Preparations...

• Before hurricane season begins, take time to meet with your local insurance agent to determine if your property and belongings are adequately protected
• It would be a good idea to make a detailed inventory of all your belongings. A photographic record of all items is very valuable when it comes to fast settlement of claims
• Obtain protective coverings for windows and garage doors. Purchase hurricane shutters, pre-cut plywood or laminated glass. Give yourself plenty of time to install these before the hurricane arrives
• Garage or store the vehicles you plan to leave behind
• Moor boats securely or place inside a building
• If you have a manufactured home, check tie-downs

After the Disaster...

• Take any necessary measures to protect and dry out your building
• Dispose of damaged property which presents a health hazard or which may hamper local clean-up operations. Be sure to adequately document discarded items by saving your reciepts, photographing items and by compiling a room-by-room inventory of missing or damaged goods
• If you perform any of the clean-up activities yourself, consider your safety and the safety of others in performing these tasks
• Do not dispose of any large dollar items tha are damaged, such as large televisions and furniture, untill authorised by your claim representative, as this property may need to be inspected
  
• Move personal property to a protected area
• If there is a lot of water inside your home, remove the water and wet items. Try to leave it as well ventilated as possible to help in the drying out process
• Handle antiques, art objects, sterling and brass with special care. You can dry them, but do not oil or rub them since this could damage finishes or surfaces
• Clean and dry wood furniture as soon as possible. Be careful not to rub in abrasives such as soil or plaster that may have fallen on the surfaces
• Try to dry bedding and upholstered furniture that is saturated with water. Don't sore other posessions near these items
• Dry and clean any carpet or rug that has minor water damage
• To prevent corrosion of metal objects, dry and rub or spray with oil
• Dry, but don't oil radios, televisions and other electric devices. Have all electrical equipment exposed to water professionally serviced before using them
• Do not attempt to start a flood-damaged car before it has been inspected as this may cause additional engine damage
  

Preparing you home for hurricane

Landscaping...

• Replace gravel /rock landscaping with shredded bark
• Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed. Cut branches and trees that could fall or bump against the house

Windows...

• Cover all large windows and patio doors with securely fastened storm shutters made from 5/8' thickness plywood or greater or install tested / manufactured hurricane shutters.

Doors...

• Reinforce the double-entry doors with heavy duty foot and head bolts, and use a security dead bolt lock with one inch minimum bolt throw length
• Reinforce double garage door and tracks or replace double garage door with hurricane wind load tested garage door

Roof...

• If you find that roof decking is not adequately attached : Use adhesive to attach the decking to the rafters.
  
• If re-roofing, use extra 8d (8 penny) nails or # 8 screws.
• Install roof covering shingles that are rated for hurricane force winds based on the manufacturer's recomendations; apply additional adhesives as needed
• Brace gable end walls and roof trusses inside attic. Install hurricane clips/straps connecting roof rafters/trusses to the side walls

Walls...

• Check to see if exterior walls aer connected to the foundation properly if you have a wood frame house