Hurricane Season... Be Prepared!
To prepare you for hurricane season here in Eastern North Carolina, we ask that you please read the following information thoroughly and properly prepare yourself and the property in the event of a hurricane. Hurricane season begins June 1st and ends November 30th.
Currently, Hurricane Florence is headed our way and it is extremely important to be vigilant, cautious, and prepared!
We strongly encourage everyone to visit the website ReadyNC’s Plan & Prepare page (https://readync.org/EN/index.html) for plenty of tips on how to plan, prepare, and most importantly, stay safe during the event of a hurricane.
It is important to remember that hurricanes and all associated weather and tidal conditions are natural disasters. Management cannot be responsible for any resulting property damage, interruption of utilities/services, or bodily injury. Make sure your renter’s insurance is current!
Please read the following information thoroughly:
Prior to Hurricane
Listen to the County Warning System and do exactly as advised. If the County Warning System required relocation, then do so early. Be sure to take necessities such as prescriptions, bedding, enough food for at least 24 hours, flashlights, battery powered radio, and extra batteries.
If you choose to evacuate: take all valuables, pets, refrigerated and frozen food with you. Turn off and unplug all electrical appliances. Turn off main circuit breaker to the house and prop open door to the refrigerator so it will not mildew inside.
FULLY CHARGE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES.
Clear off all balconies, terraces, and patios. Bring as many outside items inside the house or garage as possible. For example: lawn chairs, decorations, trash cans (wash these out prior), and hoses. If you cannot bring an item inside, then make sure it is very well secured and tied to a permanent part of the structure. Do not secure any items to a fence; this could become very dangerous in the event of a major storm.
Close all blinds to avoid shattering glass. Do not tape any windows. Windows may be boarded from the outside only. If your house has plywood or shutters for hurricanes, then put them up over the windows.
Clean and sanitize your tub then fill it with water. This water should be used for the toilet and washing dishes but may be used for drinking should the water supply become interrupted or contaminated. Visit the websites below to make sure you know what to do to make water safe to drink and for more information.
Stock on daily necessities. Items such as the following are a must: non-perishable food, foods that do not require cooking, manual can opener, bottled water, first aid kits, blankets, batteries, battery-powered radio, prescriptions, diapers, baby food (powdered milk is great substitute for real milk in an emergency), extra eye glasses, hearing aids, and battery powered lanterns.
Fill all vehicles with gas. In the event of loss of electricity, the pumps will not run.
Have enough cash on-hand. In the event of loss of electricity, ATMs and debit/credit card machines will not run. Make sure the cash is in bills no larger than $20’s as places may not be able to make change.
Carry all important paperwork and personal identification with you in waterproof containers.
Take pictures of everything in your freezer and refrigerator. It is advised for you to take pictures of your entire home in case you need to call the insurance.
In accordance with your lease agreement, you are required to have renter’s insurance.
To assist your carrier in the event of a loss, make a complete inventory of personal property. An inventory checklist can be obtained by your insurance representative/provider. Store this or any important documents in waterproof containers or waterproof safety deposit box.
Fill as many large containers of water as you can fit into your freezer and freeze them. Note: large blocks of ice last longer than small ice cubes. In the event of loss of electricity, place a few containers of ice in the refrigerator. Once one container is frozen place a quarter on top of the ice; if you check the quarter later and the quarter has moved, the freezer has defrosted and refroze and the food is spoiled. DO NOT EAT ANY THING IN THE REFRIGERATOR OR FREEZER! IT IS NOT SAFE!
Prepare an ice chest that is set up with at least 24 hours’ worth of food and drink to avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer unnecessarily. If possible throw a blanket over the refrigerator and freezer as an extra insulant.
Conserve refrigeration. Open refrigerator/freezer door as little as possible.
During the Hurricane
Continuously listen to the County Warning System on the radio and do exactly as advised.
STAY INSIDE! Do not attempt to go out during the storm; it is not safe to go out even during the eye of the storm!
Do not use a grill or any propane appliances during the storm as it is very dangerous and can cause carbon monoxide to become present or start a fire. If you use a grill it must be used outside after the storm! Do not use it in the garage!
Once the storm hits, turn off the intake water to the water heater. In the event of loss of electricity, shut the hot water circuit breaker off. When you turn off the water to the water heater you will have roughly 20 gallons of drinkable water available. DO NOT USE MORE THAN THIS AS YOU WILL HAVE SEDIMENT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WATER HEATER. Do not use this water except as a last resort!
After the storm, remember to turn on the water to the water heater and let it fill prior to turning on the circuit breaker. Check to make sure your water source is safe to drink.
In the event of loss of electricity, turn off or unplug all hazardous appliances (for example: stove, iron, curling iron, coffee makers, blow dryers, toasters, blenders). Turn off your computers and unplug them to prevent power surges. Do not forget to unplug your tv’s.
Use flashlights instead of candles or kerosene lamps. Use your phone only in the event of emergencies. If using a landline, be mindful that excessive use of phone may cause jammed phone lines which may obstruct emergency calls. If using a cell phone be sure to keep phone fully charged or charging for as long as possible. Charge all your electronic devices, cell phones, tablets, ipads etc.
REMAIN INSIDE until given the “All Clear” by the County Warning System.
After the Hurricane
If you vacated your property prior to the storm, before returning please check with the local authorities to determine the conditions of the roads and surrounding area.
Beware of all outdoor hazards. Watch out for loose or dangling power lines and immediately report them to the proper authority.
Craven County Emergency Services: 252-636-6608
Walk or drive cautiously. Debris-filled streets are very dangerous. Washouts may weaken road or bridge structures, which could collapse under vehicle weight.
Open the refrigerator only when necessary. Food will spoil in the refrigerator if power is off for more than a few hours.
Do not use water until authorities have issued the area to be a “safe water area.”
Use emergency supply in tub and boil water if you run out of water bottles. Report broken sewer or water mains to the proper authorities. Please limit the usage of water and toilet facilities.
Notify insurance carrier in the event of losses and where you may be reached.
Please wipe all moisture from windows and doors.
After being given the all clear, our management company will begin going out to each property individually to assess any damage caused by the storm. It is important to remember to be patient during this process; it takes a team of effort to assess and clean up after a storm.
As you can imagine, many of our vendors and contractors we depend upon for labor, parts, and technical assistance may be stretched to the limit. Because of that fact, please be aware that our response to a service request for your property may be delayed. We sincerely appreciate your cooperation and patience in the aftermath of these storms.
As always STAY SAFE.
Please report all damage as soon as safely possible to the management company
Here are a few websites to visit to more thoroughly prepare for any possible storm:
https://readync.org/EN/Index.html
https://readync.org/EN/Plan_MakeAPlan.html
https://readync.org/EN/Plan_GetAKit.html
https://readync.org/EN/Plan_ProtectHome.html
https://readync.org/EN/Plan_EmerAlerts.html
https://www.ncdot.gov/download/travel/travel_evac_hurricaneroutes.pdf
Very truly yours,
Mento Real Estate Services, Inc.
