Hurricane Bertha - Here We Go Again!
Hurricane Season - How To Prepare
Here we go again - there's a hurricane in the forecast. You're probably not hearing much about it - only thunderstorms that are forecast for Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday. But take a look at the hurricane forecast page on NOAA.gov, and this is what you'll see:
Spuh-oh, Bertha is heading up the coast. Okay, it doesn't look all that bad, right? Seems like it might not even graze us, right? Now take a look at this:
Above is a map that I made using NOAA's historical software, showing the paths of hurricanes from 2003 to 2013 (yes, it even shows Sandy). As you can see, storms of various sizes can do different things. Some just track harmlessly away from the coast, while others decide to wander on-shore. It's a toss-up. Right now the forecasters are saying that a High will keep Bertha off our coast. BUT if that High (ridge of high pressure) doesn't turn out to be as big or as strong as they think, Bertha could venture much closer than anticipated.
Here's what thy're showing on the main website:
Yep, that's it. No real mention of the hurricane, no reason for the thunderstorms. Let's tale a closer look: The meteorologist seems pretty certain that
WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...EXPECT A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. ADDITIONALLY...THE UPPER TROUGH WILL HELP TO KEEP TROPICAL CYCLONE BERTHA OVER THE OPEN ATLANTIC OCEAN.
Whhhut? She's a hurricane now, not a tropical cyclone, And where's all the jibber-jabber about factors here? Forecast models? Possibilities? Nada.
So the only thing to do for this is to assume it's going to be a possibility. Don't assume it's not coming, assume it will come. That's how I work it. That way I'm never surprised.
1. Right now the generators are plentiful, and you can probably get a nice little one that's affordable from Harbor Freight. Let's see -
Yep, $339 will get you something that'll run a few lights, a TV, a radio, maybe a little fridge. Oh, and don't forget that sump pump. Better check that, too - while you're at it.
Sounds good.
2. CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS. I mean it. With capital letters, no less. Seriously folks, the one thing you can do for your house to prevent drip-edge, facia, and wood rot is to clean...them...gutters. I'm using slang because I know you'll listen. Once you've cleaned all the junk out of the ones you can reach, call someone like me to clean the ones you can't. It's quick, and painless, and it'll insure the integrity of your roof.
3. Extend your gutter leaders. check it out, I wrote a blog on that, too. With some nice finds - in the designer spectrum. Get that water away from your house.
4. Have your roof inspected. I've written a whole article on why your should get a free estimate, so go ahead and check it out in my links or by scrolling down on my main page. Once you know if there are problems, you can decide to either fix them, apply for a Home Equity Line of Credit, or downright fix 'em all right then and there. I just know you've all seen the GAF Extreme Weather Testing shingle video on my website. You haven't? Well, check it out.
So hopefully you watched that - as saw why it's so important to install quality shingles in a quality way - as per manufacturer specs. Call a professional like me, and we'll get you going to a hurricane-proof roof.
5. I don'r often talk about this, but I'll add it just in case you haven't heard about it:
Hurricane-proofing your rafters: Hurricane Ties,
Here's the little gadget:
It looks like a little strap of metal with holes in it, and you place it from the rafters and the joists to the studs, wherever they meet. There's also some plates pictured as well. Now, some of you will not be able to reach these areas in your attic - but a carpenter can do that for you. These little gadgets act like an extra layer of insurance, should wind get under your roof. They hold everything together. Lots of houses were built without them, and were grandfathered out of it, but you're smarter than that, right? They cost pennies a piece and will give you a little more peace of mind.
6. How's your siding looking? Got any bare spots? better fix them up quickly. Siding itself doesn't cost that much, and you can usually find something that will match even the oldest types. If not, buy something and paint it. Yes, I'm serious. Leaving an open hole will allow rain in, and that's bad, bad, bad,
7. Check Your Chimney. Anther good job for a roofer. Got loose bricks? Loose mortar? Cracked crown? No Cap? Malfunctioning damper? All of these things can spell disaster in a hurricane. Imagine all that water, forcing it's way down your chimney! You put a roof on your house, so why wouldn't you put a roof on your chimney?
8. Check anything that goes through your roof. Sometimes it's a bathroom vent, or a pipe, what about that silly Dish that's been up there that you're not using? They can catch the wind and break off, leaving holes in your roof. Likewise, someone may have removed one, and not repaired the roof where the screws went in. I've seen that a lot. Got solar panels? Water-heating panels? Check all around where they attach to your roof.
9. Okay, you've done all of that - now's the time to stock the water and dry provisions. I like to hit up Kmart and Walgreens during the winter, and buy K-rations (whoops,showing my age!) I mean, MRE's (Meals, Ready to Eat). They're cheap then, because no one camps in the winter! There are also lots of other alternatives these days. I go for the foil-packed Indian food meals, like Chickpeas and Rice - for a change. Find them in the international aisles of your local supermarket. Don't forget to water-proof some things like toilet paper and towels, just toss 'em in a couple of ziplock bags. Here's a great way to think about it: when you were a kid and went to summer camp, they taught you to pack everything in ziplocks, right? Even the soap? So there you go. Act like you're going camping, and pack what you would use.
10. Get ready to do some cooking outdoors. Do you have charcoal or gas grill? Stock up on gas or charcoal, and put it in a safe place, away from the house. Be sure to have lighting fluid, some newspaper, a few broken -up candles, and matches - or a battery/gas lighter. Weather-proof those, as well.
11. Has some gas on-hand, even if it's just a gallon. It'd be enough to run the generator for a while, put some emergency gas in the car, even help to power a chainsaw.
12. Batteries. Get them NOW. Look around - in some of the stores they have leftovers from last year, cheap! Either that, or hit the Dollar store.
So what are you waiting for?
Don't wait for the hurricane, go do your shopping before anyone else knows about it.
Oh, and don't forget to call me, too. :) 631-281-9100 .
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