Severe weather is a normal feature of the climate in most regions of Canada. To prevent damage to your home in the event of severe weather, you must take some measures to keep yourself and your family protected.
Get Storm Ready
There are a set of activities that you can do to prepare the house and its electrical appliances for the wild weather. Make sure to check on all of them so that you can confidently declare to be sufficiently prepared.
Lightning proof your home
Protect your electronics and invest in surge protection now! This way you could save money on busted electronic devices.
Prepare an emergency kit
From water and food to first aid supplies. Prepare emergency supply kits that can get you and your family through for at least one night without utilities and power; make sure that it is in an easy-to-reach location.
Develop a family emergency plan
Talk to your family and develop a clear plan of action on how to respond to the situation. Remember to practice these rules so that nobody is caught off guard during the commotion.
Unplug electrcial devices
If you are aware that severe weather is approaching unplug any non-essential appliances completely from their power source.
Check the trees
Periodically check for weak branches or trees on your property. Trimming dead branches and cutting down dead trees can reduce the possibility of a hazard happening. In fact, trees being too close to power lines or falling close to your house are considered serious complications.
During the Event
When the storm hits, you and your family should make sure to stick to these simple rules:
Keep yourself updated
If extreme weather occurs in your area, monitor, and keep listening for official warnings and emergency services advice. So, that you can make informed decisions and stay safe.
Avoid turning on any type of appliances
This should include kitchen appliances such as stoves or heaters. You should avoid using fixed telephones because they can deliver electric shocks. Instead, you should use your mobile phones.
Keep yourself warm
If it is winter both the cold weather and the lack of electrical power could be unpleasant. It could even cause someone to get sick! Wear layers of warm clothes in anticipation of the cold weather or consider using a portable heater.
After the Storm
After similar weather events, there are still some actions that you should carry out.
Look for possible damage
While maintaining a distance you should inspect the wires for any potential damage. Don’t attempt to solve any problem yourself but instead contacted a certified electrician to make the repairs. In addition, do not use any electrical device that you think might have been affected by water.
Stay connected
In case of extensive damage to a particular area, it could be days before it is safe to turn the power back on. So, you should keep up to date with any official warnings.
Take responsability
People usually believe that issues with the wiring in the house are a power utility company’s responsibility, while the utility company is only responsible for the wring up to the connection to the house. Therefore, in case of damage past this point, you are responsible and should seek immediate assistance from your electrician.
Get a certificate of inspection
In the event of your electricity being disconnected during severe weather, your power company will need a certificate to clear the premises and have the power reconnected.
While it is not possible to prevent extreme weather and storms, you can prevent them from becoming disasters by adapting our homes and infrastructure with simple actions. Such as considering weather-resistance roofing and siding when building or renovating your house, removing weak branches and trees close to your home, and installing a sump pump with backup power.
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