Style Craft Homes

How to prepare your home (and your family) for storms in Richmond.

It’s that time of year again—and unfortunately for us, hurricane season started off with a bang! Hopefully everyone has recovered from Irene and is back in the swing of things. In case you weren’t feeling as well-prepared as you’d like to have been, here is some advice on what to do the next time Richmond is in the path of a storm.

Supplies to stock up on before the storm:

1. Water. We recommend one gallon per person per day that you might need it. And don’t forget your pets in that count! Having a few of these 5 gallon jugs around the house is also really helpful. Fill them up with tap water before the storm and you’ll have an easily accessible supply for washing hands and dishes.
2. Ice or Dry Ice: Keep a cooler filled—if you lose power, use the ice to salvage perishable foods.
3. Food: Think about high-energy, high protein foods that don’t require refrigeration or much preparation. Nuts, peanut butter, crackers, tuna, and granola all make the top of our list.
4. Batteries and flashlights: Make sure you have plenty of backups, and set them out in a place that you and your family can find easily in the dark. During Irene I found these light sticks particularly helpful for lighting bathrooms and hallways.
5. Gas: Fill up that gas tank! After the storm hits it may take a while for stations to get power. Plus, this way you can charge your phones while you wait for power to be restored!
6. Cash: Many stores may be able to get up and running off of generators after a storm. Their credit card systems may not.
7. Anti-bacterial wipes and hand sanitizer.
8. Propane or charcoal for your grill.
9. NOAA weather radio: Make sure you can hear any potential warnings such as they are issued.

Before the storm hits:

1. Clean any dirty laundry and run the dishwasher.
2. Take a nice long shower before the storm hits—you may need to hold out for a few days without hot water.
3. Make sure you’ve charged your phone before the storm hits. Keep it plugged in whenever its not in use.
4. If you have a landline, make sure you have a non-wireless/digital phone available to use. Even if the power is out, your phone line should still work.
5. Fill up your bathtub with water. If the water supply is affected you will still be able to use this water to flush toilets.
6. Move all yard accessories, patio furniture and grills into your garage or basement.
7. Make sure your screens are secure. If they are loose, remove them until after the storm passes.
8. Trim back any trees or shrubs to reduce the weight and strain on their root systems during the storm. Make sure you secure any debris from this process.
9. If your car(s) cannot be parked in a garage, make sure they are parked out of the reach of trees, and preferably away from low-lying areas.
10. Take a quick look at your gutters and make sure that nothing is obstructed.
11. Check in with your neighbors and see if they need help making their own preparations

During the storm:

1. Minimize the risk to your electronics by unplugging computers and appliances that are not in use.
2. Stay indoors as much as possible.
3. Remain on the lowest level of your home, away from windows and doors if possible.
4. Stay alert! Keep your weather radio handy, or check in with a local television station to make sure no additional precautions are necessary. If you’re on twitter we highly recommend following @WxDan for extensive coverage of our local conditions.
5. Don’t panic! These storms may take a while to pass—try to relax and enjoy the time with your family (or a good book).

After the storm:

1. When it is safe to do so, survey the exterior of your home to make sure there is no structural damage.
2. Watch for downed power lines. Report these to the power company as soon as possible and stay away from them until otherwise notified.
3. Listen to the local news and make sure that the water supply is still safe to use.
4. Do not drive around unless you need to. Keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles and utility repair staff.
5. If you’re going to use a generator, keep it outside and away from doors and windows. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that kills dozens of people every year due to improper use.
6. Check in with your neighbors and make sure they are safe.

We know there are many other steps that you can take to prepare for a hurricane. Do you have any helpful tips from your own experience? We’d love to hear them—just leave a comment here, or on our facebook page.