Just one year ago, I wrote a blog called, “Running From a Disaster” that included safe driving tips for people being evacuated from Florida and Georgia due to the incoming Category 4 Hurricane Irma.
This year, it’s the North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia coastal residents and visitors who will be fleeing from and preparing for a disaster. Evacuations have already begun for the coastal areas of Virginia and the Carolinas as Hurricance Florence relentlessly churns the ocean some 900 miles away. Today, over a million people are huddled in the cars and heading for higher ground.
Because of its beautiful purplish-blue majestic mountains and steep hilly landscape, the Roanoke Valley has never been called, “coastal.” But this week, the storm will bring us the same problems that the coastal regions are facing. Wind speeds for the Valley as of the time of this posting are predicted to be sustained at 50 mph. Conditions will be treacherous, as our soil is already saturated from rains earlier this week as well as an unusually wet summer. Wet Ground + High Wind= Falling trees.
Further complicating matters, will be the deluge of rain, especially if Hurricane Florence stalls over the Valley. The storm is currently larger than the state of Michigan at 350 miles wide. Meterologists have repeatedly remarked that is it also, “organized” and is now predicted to grow and gain strength and increase its wind speeds as it gleans fuel from the warm Atlantic Ocean waters. Weather experts are predicting anywhere from 12-36 inches of rain could fall in a brief period of time.
The Good News
Its 2018, and while our weather predicting capabilities are not fool-proof, they are relatively accurate when it comes to hurricanes. Satellite imagery and the study of the science of weather patterns combine to give us ample time to prepare for the damage and chaos that hurricanes bring.
At this time, the Roanoke Valley can expect to see effects from Florence as early as Thursday night. Counting today, that gives us two full days of preparation. Skies are calm this morning, so tackle the outside work first.
Your To-Do List
- Clean out your gutters and any drains close to or on your property.
- Cover window wells with window well covers or plywood.
- Check your gutters to make sure water is being diverted away from your house. If it is not, buy gutter extenders and attach to the end of the gutters to divert water away from any structures.
- Clear deck, porches, and patios of any items that can be blown away.
- Trim large branches or dead limbs and remove from your property.
- Take pictures of the exterior of property. Be sure to take close ups of your roof, shutters, gutters and any trim.
- Gather important papers and documents such as a copy of your homeowner’s policy, pictures of your valuables, recent pictures of the exterior of your home, and personal identification and put in a waterproof, plastic container.
- Fill all prescriptions.
- Gather enough food and bottled water for at least a week. Even if your home is not flooded, roads may be impassable and you may not be able to get to the grocery store for a few days.
- Have foods on hand that do not have to be refrigerated or heated. Residents in our area may not have power for several days. If you have a generator, please follow the manufacturers instructions for safe use.
- Stock up on batteries for flashlights.
- If you have a security system, print out instructions for how to operate the system without the use of your cell phone. Most home security systems can operate for several hours on battery back-up, but you will need to operate it using the keypad, if your phone dies or the internet goes down.
- Make a plan with your family that includes meeting places.
If you or a family member needs representation after a serious accident, call The Thomson Law Firm for a FREE consultation. We are accepting new cases.
