Preparing for the Upcoming Storm Season
It’s that time of year when we should be implementing a few easy measures to be prepared for the upcoming Storm Season here on the Sunshine Coast.
While the weather has been lovely recently, we’re heading into those months when the weather can be slightly unpredictable and storms become more frequent and even destructive.
It’s important to ensure that in the event of a storm, your home is prepared to withstand extreme conditions.
Having a pre-thought-out emergency plan is essential to ensure your family is ready to respond if you find yourselves in an emergency situation. Here are some areas to think about:
- Stock your pantry with non-perishable food items plus fresh drinking water
- Review what’s in your first-aid kit plus pack any essential medications for any family members
- Compile a list of emergency contacts and other handy numbers (insurance company etc)
- Check that your insurance policies are current and provide adequate cover
- Have torches and batteries easily accessible and charged in the event of a power outage
- Develop and practise an exit strategy that all family members understand
Clean up your backyard and around the house
This weekend, take the time to look around your home and property to prepare for any storms including:
- Clear leaves and other debris from gutters, watertank screens, downpipes and stormwater drains
- Clear any tree branches hanging over your roof or home
- Clean up loose items such as kids’ toys, bikes, tools, outdoor furniture and dead tree branches
- Repair any damaged fences, roofs and gutters
Protect your windows from flying debris
With high winds, any unsecured items could become airborne and cause damage to the outside of your home.
Crimsafe Cyclone Debris Screens are specially designed to protect against flying debris from wind gusts up to 392 km/h and can withstand big impacts. Passing the highest standard for Cyclone Debris Screening, these screens are suitable for use in Cyclone Regions C and D and protect against damage from hail, reducing the risk of large hailstones breaking through windows.
Store away Blind and Awnings
It might sound obvious, but safely storing away outdoor blinds and awnings in bad weather is crucial to ensuring their longevity and maintaining their good condition.
While outdoor blinds are designed to withstand light rain, you want to avoid leaving them down in heavy rain which can damage the fabric, or in the case of high winds could tear the product.
Actions for before a storm
Before a storm, heavy winds and/or heavy rain approaches, you should always make sure you do the following:
- Close windows
- Roll up and stow away any outdoor awnings or blinds
- Tie-down or store away any outdoor furniture or loose items
- Move vehicles undercover and secure trailers and boats in a safe place
- Tape your windows in an X pattern with strong packing tape to reduce the chance of windows breaking during high winds
- Bring your pets and unsecured items inside or in the case of larger pets such as horses, make sure they are in a secured, safe area
If you are evacuating, lock all doors and windows securely, and make sure you grab your emergency kit.
Contact us today!
North Coast Blinds & Security is the number one supplier and installer of Crimsafe on the Sunshine Coast and also supplies an extensive range of outdoor blinds and awnings. For more information or to book a free measure and quote, please contact us on (07) 5456 2199 or email sales@northcoastblinds.com.au
For more information on our range of products, please visit www.northcoastblinds.com.au