{"id":11330,"date":"2016-02-11T16:28:24","date_gmt":"2016-02-11T16:28:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.asapdrainandplumbing.com\/recycling-water-for-a-greener-future-2\/"},"modified":"2016-02-11T16:28:24","modified_gmt":"2016-02-11T16:28:24","slug":"dont-forget-storm-preparation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.asapdrainandplumbing.com\/dont-forget-storm-preparation\/","title":{"rendered":"El Ni\u00f1o is Back: Don’t Forget Storm Preparation"},"content":{"rendered":"

In any year it’s important to brace for winter storms, especially if you’re in an area that has previously experienced high winds, flooding, or mudslides.\u00a0 And in an El Ni\u00f1o year that’s doubly important.\u00a0 With the record-breaking ocean currents last fall, Southern California could still be in for trouble.\u00a0 After discussing disaster preparation in general, this article will go over some tips specific to rainstorms including some plumbing checks property owners and managers should take now if they haven’t already in preparation for each rainy season.<\/p>\n

And remember:\u00a0 implement these measures now rather than waiting until later when time is critical and stores may already out of stock.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not So Much Different from Earthquake Preparedness<\/h2>\n

Our lives depend so much on a reliable source of electricity, yet utilities deliver so dependably that we may forget that we need to be ready to\u00a0go hours or even a few days without electric power.\u00a0 In remote areas, where power is often restored last, some people have their own back-up generators.\u00a0 That may also be necessary for those with equipment necessary to maintain their health.\u00a0 Otherwise the key needs are a battery operated radio and a cell-phone boost battery.\u00a0 It’s also important to keep some cash on hand.\u00a0 With an area-wide power outage you may not be able to get to a working ATM.<\/p>\n

EXTRA TIP:<\/strong>\u00a0 If you hear a storm alert, turn your freezer and refrigerator to the coldest settings and if there’s a power outage open them as little as possible.\u00a0 That could earn you several extra hours or even a day before foods start going bad.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

We can go a week or more without food, but only a couple of days without drinkable water.\u00a0 The typical recommendation is to stock 7 gallons of bottled water per person (1 gallon per day for 7 days).\u00a0 It’s also advisable to keep several days of non-perishable food on hand.\u00a0 You’ll also want to stay warm.\u00a0 Store clothing and bedding well above the floor, and ideally in water-tight bags or containers.\u00a0 And for health, people should also keep a well-stocked first-aid kit and at least a week’s supply of any prescription medications.<\/p>\n

Additionally, be sure that important documents are stored in a safe location.\u00a0 Finally, every family should have evacuation, communication, and meet-up plans so that everyone knows what to do and so that there will be fewer worries.<\/p>\n

Storm Preparation<\/h2>\n

There are several things you should also do that are specific to rain and wind.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Before each rainy season make sure that your gutters and down spouts are clear so that rain can run away from the building.<\/li>\n
  • Even though it may be the city’s responsibility, make sure that nearby storm drain grates at the street are unobstructed.<\/li>\n
  • Make sure that landscaping is such that rainfall drains away from the building rather than towards it.<\/li>\n
  • Have your roof inspected for leaks and damage every few years.<\/li>\n
  • Check the foundation for cracks.\u00a0 They may let in more water, and might even widen to the point of structural failure.<\/li>\n
  • Check that weather stripping around windows and doors is in good condition.<\/li>\n
  • Have any nearby trees pruned and checked every few years to avoid downed limbs or uprooting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    If you haven’t done so recently, check that your insurance policy covers all <\/em>the types of damage that might occur in a storm, and make an inventory of all your valuable possessions.<\/p>\n

    Whenever a storm is approaching, keep up to the minute on weather and flood advisories.\u00a0 It’s often advisable to pre-pack for a possible evacuation, as well as to move lawn furniture, garbage cans, and the like into the garage or indoors.\u00a0 That way they won’t be damaged or become projectiles in heavy winds.<\/p>\n

    SAFETY TIP<\/strong>:\u00a0 If you actually experience flooding, turn off the electricity (to prevent electrocution hazards) as well as the gas (pilot lights can go out, and poor combustion due to winds or wetness can create carbon monoxide).<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

    Plumbing Preparation<\/h2>\n

    There are also a few things you should check that may need a plumber to correct.<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Test that floor and patio drains as well as leader drains (lines that go from down spouts or low lying areas to the storm drain) are clear by pouring in a few gallons of water.\u00a0 It should all quickly drain away.<\/li>\n
    • Make sure that the main sewer line is clear to avoid back-ups.\u00a0 If it hasn’t been cabled recently an in-pipe inspection may be in order.<\/li>\n
    • If even minor flooding is common in your property’s area or you have a basement, installing a\u00a0sump pump may be a good investment.\u00a0 If you already have one, be sure it and its battery back-up are in good working order.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      In Conclusion<\/h4>\n

      That’s a lot<\/em> of things to look into and do!\u00a0 Even with the best of intentions it’s likely to take you quite a while to check off everything.\u00a0 So think things through, and make a priority list for your particular situation.\u00a0 Work on the most important items first, with the goal of getting everything<\/em> checked off before the start of next fall’s rainy season.\u00a0 And be prepared to shift into high gear if you hear any heavy rain or heavy wind warnings over the next few months. \t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      In any year it’s important to brace for winter storms, especially if you’re in an area that has previously experienced high winds, flooding, or mudslides.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11333,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[108,109,110,99,111,112,113],"class_list":["post-11330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-el-nino-plumber","tag-el-nino-storm-preparation-san-diego-california","tag-local-plumber-el-nino-san-diego","tag-local-plumber-san-diego","tag-plumbing-storm-preparation","tag-storm-plumbing-san-diego-california","tag-storm-preparation-san-diego"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asapdrainandplumbing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11330","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asapdrainandplumbing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asapdrainandplumbing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asapdrainandplumbing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asapdrainandplumbing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11330"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.asapdrainandplumbing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11330\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asapdrainandplumbing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asapdrainandplumbing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11330"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asapdrainandplumbing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11330"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asapdrainandplumbing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11330"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}