Chris Hounchell REALTOR

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Award-winning Florida real estate Broker PROUDLY SELLING IN PINELLAS, HILLSBOROUGH, PASCO, MANATEE & SARASOTA COUNTIES since 2004.

Hurricane Recovery

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The Tampa Bay area dodged a direct landfall from Hurricane Irma this past week but it didn’t spare the area from feeling the effects. Now that the storm is passed it’s time to clean up the mess the hurricane left behind. Read below for important safety, insurance, and clean up tips that will make the recovery process go as smooth as possible.

Follow Instructions

As we’ve said in previous posts about flood and hurricane safety, do not return to your home until you’ve been cleared by local authorities. If you do not heed their warnings, you run the risk of encounter live electrical lines, displaced wildlife, and other dangerous or hazardous situations. If you have been allowed back to your home to collect belongings and assess damage, continue to monitor the instructions of local officials; flooding and storm situations are ever changing even after the initial storm is passed. The CDC recommends using safety equipment such as hard hats, gloves, waterproof boots, and eye protection when you return to a damaged property.

Document Everything

While it’s a good practice to have pre-storm documentation of your home’s condition and your personal effects, you’ll need to document the things that the storm and/or flood waters have done to your property. Your best bet it to take pictures with a digital camera that time-stamps the photos. Contact your insurance company and begin the claims process as soon as possible. Resist the urge to throw out damaged items until after your insurance adjuster has seen the damage first hand or you’ve been instructed to do so by your insurance agent. Some insurance policies include reimbursement for displaced lodging and meals so be sure to keep all of your receipts.

Hurricane Recovery

Proceed With Caution

Set the stage for an organized and safe clean out. Make plans to secure valuables and other personal property that were not affected in a separate location. Once the water has receded or been removed from your home, use high powered fans to begin drying. Carpet and dry wall may need to be removed in order to prevent mold growth. Use bleach diluted in clean water to scrub surfaces that may have come in contact with flood water.

Remove downed trees and limbs in a safe manner. If any part of a tree or limb is resting on or near a power line, consider the line live and contact utility workers to assist in the removal. Clear gutters, drain spots, and drains of any debris that may have collected during the storm. If siding was damaged or removed during the storm, check to to ensure the walls and insulation were not damaged before replacing the siding. Hose off any remaining debris from exterior walls, driveways, and sidewalks. Check to make sure fences are secure and sidewalks are in good condition.

If any part of your home looks to be sagging or feels weak, contact a structural engineer to evaluate the issue and determine how best to repair it.

Take Care of Yourself

Experiencing an event such as a hurricane or flood is extremely stressful. It’s understandable to be upset when you see the damage done to your home. Make sure you take proper precautions to protect your physical safety. Be sure to take adequate breaks while working, eat healthy meals and snacks, and get enough sleep each night. If you find yourself struggling mentally with the stress of the situation, don’t be afraid to reach out to a counselor for some help.

Hurricane Safety: Before, During, & After

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Hurriance season is less than a month away. Until last year, it had been ten years since Florida was struck by a hurricane and that left many people complacent and unprepared for Hurricanes Hermine and Matthew . We’re about to bring you up to speed on what you should do before a hurricane ever forms and when the threat is imminent, and after.

Before a Hurricane

We’ve previously written a hurricane preparedness guide that covers what you should do prior to the threat of a hurricane. We recommend that you refresh yourself with these tips every year and take stock of your supplies, replenish those that have expired or been exhausted, and update your evacuation plans.

If a hurricane is targeting your area, heed the evacuation requirements from officials. If you don’t and need emergency assistance during the storm, you may not receive it until it’s safe for officials to respond. You should survey your property and secure any items that are loose and could become airborne due to high winds. Many property owners also board up or tape their windows. This isn’t just to prevent the windows from breaking but if they do break, shards of glass will be more readily contained. You’ll also want to fill up a bathtub with water. If water service is interrupted, you’ll be able to use the water to wash your hands or flush toilets.

Hurricane Safety

During a Hurricane

If you haven’t been ordered to evacuate or have ignored the call to do so, you should remain away from all windows and doors. Closing your blinds and curtains also will help prevent a spray of shattered glass should a window or door break during the storm.  It’s good practice to constantly monitor the current status of the storm and any changes to evacuation orders either through television or radio. Rain and high winds aren’t the only concerns with a hurricane; tornadoes are also spawned off of the storms and can form quickly. Interior and low-lying rooms are the safest place to be during this threat.

Hurricanes are two part storms. As the eye of the storm passes over your area, it can give the allusion that the storm has passed and it’s safe to venture outside. Under no circumstances other than direction from officials should you go outside during the calm of a hurricane. The eye can pass over the area quickly and leave you unprepared or unable to return to safety.

After a Hurricane

Connect with family and friends as soon as possible after a hurricane to inform them of your safety and your location. This will help lessen the concerned calls first responders receive from worried loved ones. If you’ve been evacuated from the area, you should only return after being instructed by officials.

Flooding is a concern during and after a hurricane. We have safety tips on how to deal with flooding.

You should schedule a professional to come inspect your home for any damage after a hurricane. Even a minor leak can cause severe damage later if left unnoticed or unresolved. If you need to file a claim with your insurance company, take picture of the damage and don’t discard anything unless directed to do so by your claim’s representative.

Even with the technology available to meteorologists today, hurricanes remain unpredictable forces of nature. We hope these tips for before, during, and after a hurricane keep you and your family safe.

Hurricane Preparedness Guide

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Hurricane season doesn’t officially begin until June 1 but you should be well prepared for it before then. There’s more to being prepared than simply having a flashlight and some batteries. Hurricanes are a major safety concern and each storm is unique. Follow our hurricane preparedness tips to get prepared and stay safe should a storm set its sights on Florida this year.

Hurricane Preparedness

 

  • Supply kit. Your supply kit should include first aid supplies, enough drinking water and non-perishable food for each person for three days, a battery-operated radio, flashlight, batteries, baby formula and diapers (if applicable), three days’ supply of any necessary medication (if applicable), a map of the area, wet wipes or baby wipes, and garbage bags. The supplies should be kept in a waterproof container that’s easy to move and readily accessible to you; plastic storage totes work well. Should you need to leave your home you should also bring identification for all family members as well as credit cards and cash.
  • Develop an emergency plan. Know how to exit your home safely through multiple exits. Assign meeting areas immediately outside your home and also at a separate location should your family be separated. Determine if you live in a hurricane evacuation area and learn how to get to the evacuation route as quickly as possible. Identify a safe place to evacuate to or locate several shelters outside the evacuation zone.
  • Insure your home. It’s best to reevaluate your home owner’s insurance policy once a year to assess if your coverage will meet your needs. Even if you don’t live a flood zone you may want to consider flood insurance. You may also want to inquire about additional coverage should you be unable to return to your home in the event of severe damage. It’s also best to keep a photographic inventory of your possessions and store the photos in a fire box, safety deposit box, or other secure location to help make filing a claim easier.
  • Stay informed. Should a storm threaten your area monitor the weather reports and announcements from officials. Be aware if evacuation orders are voluntary or mandatory. If you do not evacuate under mandatory orders you may not receive help during the storm should you need it.

We hope it’s a safe and sunny summer for you!