How to Be Winter Storm Ready In Your Poughkeepsie Home

1/21/2022 (Permalink)

You can't ever be too storm-ready, so prepare your family, your home and your pets from the brutal damage a winter storm can make!

We’re all used to winter storms in Dutchess County, some drop a ton of snow, some blustery and frigid and some bringing that nasty coating of ice. Just because they happen frequently does not mean they shouldn’t be taken seriously every time.

Severe snowstorms can produce white out conditions, dangerously low temps, blowing drifts and amounting inches to feet, if conditions are right. It’s wise to prepare your family, your pets, and your home every year to help evade and be ready for issues that can arise and possible extreme situations.

Storm Safety for Every Element of Your Home

Outside of your home-

Storms can lead to serious household damage that can be stressful to deal with. To help prevent this damage from occurring, you can take several steps:

• Inspect your roof regularly for missing or loose shingles. Throughout the year, take a look in the attic for any wet or damp spots (or even mold growth). Be mindful of any noticeable drafty areas and have them taken care of asap.
• Clean out your gutters at least twice per year. Debris and leaves can clog up the downspouts and cause water intrusion. In the winter months, accumulating and then melting snow (from attic heat) can cause ice buildup in your gutters. This can cause an ice dam which forces water behind the gutters and into the walls and rooms of your home. Keep your attic well ventilated and cool to help avoid this hassle as well.
• Bring in or secure patio furniture, potted plants and any other objects that could become projectiles in high winds. This includes snow removal equipment, ice scrapers, outside toys, holiday decorations, trampolines, pet supplies and garbage cans. We’ve all seen garbage cans flying down the sidewalks and roads from time to time. These also can cause traffic issues.
• Trim trees near your home regularly to reduce the chances of dead limbs falling on your home. Additionally, this helps keep gutters from clogging. If you notice any near power lines, notify your electric provider immediately so they can deal with them quickly. Don’t try to trim any branches near power lines or transformers.

Inside your home-

If severe weather is on the way, the best thing you can do is stay put where you are or stay safe at home—and having a plan in place can help you make that happen:

• Keep a weather radio, flashlights and batteries and spare car chargers or cell phone battery chargers as part of your emergency preparedness kit. ? Designate a safe area of your home for your family to shelter from the storm—it should be an interior room without any windows. Make sure all family members know the plan and location and that your pets can be with you indoors too.

Some tips for avoiding frozen pipes-

The frigid temperatures can linger for days. Often, uninsulated areas of your home are the most vulnerable to water pipes freezing.

-Check garages, basements, crawl spaces, laundry rooms, utility rooms and renovated areas to make sure the pipes and/or walls are insulated enough.

-A simple 60-watt light bulb in small rooms can give off enough heat to help avoid pipe issues.

-Try wrapping uninsulated pipes in Styrofoam pool noodles, they very inexpensive and easy to do.

-Only use a space heater when you are home, in the same room and never plug it into an extension cord.

-Insulate drafty areas around windows and doors.

When you are away from home-

If you will be going out of town for more than a day, it’s wise to make sure your home is still protected from a storm that might come through while you are away.

Do NOT turn the heat off, never below 55 degrees or you will come back to an igloo

• Unplug all appliances and electronics.
• Secure all outdoor furniture and possible projectile objects before you go away just in case. Think along the lines that pretty much anything outside can become a projectile.
• Be sure a trusted neighbor or family member knows you are going out of town so they can reliably check inside your home and contact you if any issues arise. This is also helpful when it comes to home invasions that can occur when there’s less security.

If your home sustains any kind of storm damage, we’re here to help 24/7. Contact SERVPRO of Western Dutchess County as soon as possible. We’ll be with you step by step, work with you and your insurance company to help get you back to preloss condition quickly and effectively. Making it Like it never even happened, locally, since 1992.