Preparing Your Home

1. An Important Point: Many times storms sometimes don't do as much physical damage as they expose existing un-repaired maintenance problems. The more small repair problems you can take care of problems now, the less big headaches you will face later. It is more rare to see a well built, well maintained, storm-ready home suffer damage than a home in need of repair.
   
2. Look at your home and yard. See that trees or branches are not in danger of falling on your home. Now is a good time to call a tree trimmer to inspect your trees they can point out any hidden diseases or weak branches that could fall in high winds. You don't want to wake to the sound of a tree crashing through your child's bedroom. Are branches clear of your power and phone lines? If not, notify your Utility Co. weeks before a storm could damage anything. Most estimates are free. If on a fixed income, find out if there are any special programs or volunteer groups that could do this removal work for little or no cost.
   
3. Check your roof for leaks or damage to rain gutters that could cause a flat roof to flood. If in doubt about your roof or gutters call a roofer for a free inspection (most are happy to do this and you are still under no obligation to have any work done.) If you do get some damage after a storm, that company may give you a little better price than a stranger. If they did repair your roof and it still leaked, warrantees should fix or replace the damage at no cost, saving you thousand in damage and repair costs. If is a good idea to buy a blue plastic tarp or plastic sheet(s) just in case you due need to cover part or all of your roof. A handyman's stable gun with a box of staples attaches the tarp to a roof or wall and will last or months till the roof can be repaired.
   
4. Inspect your windows and doors to check for cracks, loose frames, plugged weep holes, weather-stripping etc. Many leaky windows and door frames can be sealed with a tube of inexpensive caulking material (cost $3.00 to 6.00 per tube)
   
5. Remove debris or loose items from your yard. Take down hanging plants on your porch that could break windows. Store lawn furniture, bikes and toys in a shed or tie then to a sturdy post.
   
6. See if loose fence boards or posts can be repaired to prevent them from falling down.
   
7. Have sandbags or use plastic garbage bags and sheets of plastic ready to protect doorways and for repairs after the storm. Buy these items well before you need them. Their is no need to stampede grocery and hardware stores since you know storms WILL happen each year. Serious weather (i.e. wind, rain, snow, and flooding) are always possibilities wherever you live.
   
8. If you live at the base of a hill or on a cliff. Check to see that drainage and retaining walls are in good shape. Plastic sheeting and wood stakes and preventive planting can reduce the chance of mud sliding or flooding.
   
9. Have precut plywood handy to board up your windows and doors. (A minimum of 1/2" exterior grade plywood)
   
10. . BUY GOVERNMENT FLOOD INSURANCE: Let me be clear, My wife and I hate insurance! But most homeowners and renters insurance do not cover flood and/or mud damage. The Government Flood Insurance Program costs about $300.00 a year but provides thousands in coverage that you will have to pay out of pocket without. Please check out http://www.fema.gov.
    
11. Make sure your propane tank is bolted to the ground.

• The sad fact is that the U.S. government knew, due to the heavy snow fall that North and South Dakota would be hit hard by spring flooding. Proactively they tried to educate the public, they spent $3 million in advertising to convince people to buy flood insurance. Six months later out of 90,000 damaged homes in the expected flood, less than 1,000 homes purchased flood insurance. Flood insurance is only about $300 a year.

For Your Home-Business:

1. Have the ability to forward your phone and fax calls to another address.
2. Know how to access your E-mails from a remote computer.  This is not difficult, but you should have the instructions written down.
3. Have a copy of following information off-site so it is not lost or inaccessible:

a) Accounting data
b) Customer names addresses, numbers etc.
c) Vendor names, addresses, numbers etc.
d) A formatted (or pre-printed) letter with a backup address for mailing and billing, phone numbers. The letter should explain that your company is still in business during the crisis and that you welcome their business and payments.

For more detailed consulting and planning contact us directly at (888) 723-3897.

Preparing Your Family

Take storm warnings and watches seriously. Too many people die each year because attempt to "ride out the storm" or evacuate too late. Trying to ride out the storm in your home in an evacuation area, risks the lives of your local Police and Fire personnel. Rescuers are killed each year trying to save people who ignored evacuation orders.

(You can tell - I feel strongly about this point!)

1. Have emergency preparedness kits for your family in case you must evacuate or lose power and water. See our selection of preparedness kits or make your own a home kit.

• Other useful items:
• Family medications, extra glasses
• Diapers wipes and baby bottles
• a phone card & a list of family numbers in plastic
• small toy and books for your children
• small change & 1's and 5's
• Note on your door to say where you have gone.
• Change of shoes, socks and clothes for each family member
• Pet food and bowl for pets in a pet carrier

1. During a storm, have emergency supplies (flashlights, food, clothes important papers) ready to go if evacuation is necessary.
2. Listen to a battery powered radio to stay informed during an emergency in case power outages, emergency notices or evacuations are needed.
3. Have plastic bags or sheets available to cover furniture in case of leaks. Move items to higher ground if flooding is a possibility.