The holidays are officially over, and now is the best time to prepare for inclement winter weather. Winter storms can bring extremely cold temperatures, freezing rain, snow, hail, and strong winds. They cause accidents, frostbite, hypothermia, carbon monoxide poisoning, and other incidents, causing hundreds of injuries and deaths every year.
Winter storms can last several hours or days and can cut off heat, power and communication, according to Ready.gov, so it is proactive to prepare ahead to protect your family and property. ServiceMaster by LoveJoy has summarized basic snowstorm preparedness tips below to keep you safe and secure this winter.- Stay updated. Be on the lookout for winter storm warnings from your local news source.
- Prepare your winter emergency kit. As with any disaster, an emergency kit should be filled with all the supplies you might need. It should be kept in a sturdy and waterproof container in a location that can easily be accessed. Bear in mind to add items for health and safety and the following snow-related items, such as: (1) rock salt or other products to melt walkway ice, (2) sand to improve traction on snow, (3) snow removal equipment, (4) enough heating fuel, and (5) clothing and blankets to keep every family member warm.
- Make an emergency communications plan which you could rehearse with your family ahead of time. It is important that everyone is aware of how to contact one another in case you get separated from the others during a storm.
How to Prepare Your Home for a Snowstorm
- Frozen pipes often occur in winter, so learn how to protect your pipes to keep them from bursting. This is best done by insulating your pipes.
- Inspect windows and doors for cracks and caulk or seal them to keep the heat in.
- Clean up the outdoors, especially gutters to prevent ice dams.
- Clean chimneys and fireplaces.
- Deal with roof damage immediately to ensure that it could handle the weight of accumulated snow and prevent more damage from happening during a snowstorm.
- Make sure that you have enough fuel for heating in case usual fuel sources are cut off. Keep a supply of firewood or coal for the fireplace.
- Ensure that the space heaters you use are certified by an independent testing laboratory.
- If you live in a flood-prone area, consider getting flood insurance to cover the damage that may occur during a spring thaw. Ask your insurance provider about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Call ServiceMaster by LoveJoy for Water Damage Restoration in Conyers, GA
When your home suffers from winter water damage, ServiceMaster by LoveJoy is the company to call. Our property restoration specialists are certified and have been trained to the industry’s best procedures and practices to provide expert restoration solutions to any size project. We have been providing water damage restoration services to residential and commercial properties in Conyers, GA for more than 30 years. We are also an Insurance-Preferred Vendor for some of the top insurance companies in the Georgia area, so you can be sure that you’re getting the highest-quality results the industry has to offer.
Contact ServiceMaster by LoveJoy at (678) 293-0297 today for Conyers customers or (770) 983-6665 for Roswell customers, or connect with us online to schedule an appointment. We are servicing Atlanta, Roswell , Sandy Springs, Marietta, Decatur, Stockbridge, Conyers, McDonough, Stone Mountain, Covington, Social Circle, Dekalb County, and Fulton County, Georgia.
