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Be Ready for Winter Storms and Extreme Weather | SERVPRO® of Cudahy/St. Francis
1/14/2022 (Permalink)
It’s about to be that time again. The season of family gatherings, religious and cultural holidays and that oh-so-hopeful countdown to a new year. It’s a wonderful time for many, but don’t let it distract you from the important need to prepare for potentially hazardous weather.
Living in the Milwaukee area provides a virtual guarantee that you’ll be encountering some kind of heavy winter weather this year. So as fall fades and winter waits, let’s look at the list of things for which you should be preparing.
One of the most crucial and important things you can do to prepare your family and household is to communicate. Make sure your family has an updated emergency action plan that will allow everyone to act in confidence in the face of an emergency.
Get your vehicle winter-ready. Check all systems and get a tune-up, ensuring everything is working properly, including your battery. Top off fluids as well, replace your windshield wipers if needed, and rotate or replace any tires that may be necessary.
Frozen pipes are a very real danger in a deep freeze, and they can lead to massive water damage if they occur.
Whatever your heating source is at home, check that it’s in good working order to last for the winter season. If you use any wood-burning stoves or fireplaces, make sure they’re clean and well-ventilated. Keep extra firewood on hand in case you get shut in at any point. Always use caution with any source of flame, and never use fuel accelerants to start or propagate a fire.
It’s also a good time to check that your attic is properly insulated and re-seal any windows that may be letting cold air blow in.
If you have pets that you can bring inside, let them stay cozy with you during the winter cold. Make them a comfortable spot to call their own.
If you have livestock or outdoor-only animals, be sure to provide them with good shelter and ready access to water that isn’t frozen.
Snowmelt and thawing ice can produce dangerous floods and ice dams that threaten the security of homes and businesses. Let local alerts keep you up to date and aware of these potential dangers.
If winter weather should bring damage or flooding to your home or business, contact SERVPRO for fast, restorative solutions.