Tropical Storm Preparedness

How To Evacuate

Since flooding and high winds can occur many hours before a Tropical Storm or hurricane makes landfall, it is critical evacuees leave their homes immediately if instructed to do so by emergency officials. Evacuees are encouraged to seek shelter with friends or family or outside evacuation zones when possible.

To avoid being trapped by flooded roads, washed-out bridges or disruptions to mass transportation, evacuees should plan their mode of transportation with special care.

Plan to use mass transit as much as possible, as it offers the fastest way to reach your destination. Using mass transit reduces the volume of evacuees on the roadways, reducing the risk of dangerous and time-consuming traffic delays.

Listen carefully to your local news media, which will broadcast reports about weather and transportation conditions.

Evacuations from at-risk zones will be phased to encourage residents in coastal areas to leave their homes before inland residents and to help ensure an orderly evacuation process.

Leave early. Evacuations will need to be completed before winds and flooding become a threat, because wind and heavy rain could force the early closure of key transportation routes, like bridges and tunnels.

The City advises against car travel during an evacuation. The City will be working hard to keep roads clear, but traffic is unavoidable in any evacuation. Driving will increase your risk of becoming stranded on a roadway during an evacuation.

IF YOU MUST TAKE A CAR: Be ready for a long, slow trip. Be aware the City will deploy public safety personnel along major transportation routes to help vehicular traffic flow as smoothly as possible. Have a full gas tank before you go.

Stay tuned to local media for information about road and bridge closures.

Evacuation Centers are the ONLY places where people may park vehicles. Many evacuation centers do NOT have parking available. Tune in to local media for instructions.

Large vehicles may be prohibited in windy conditions. This could apply to trailers, trucks, boats and other vehicles with a higher wind profile than a car or SUV.

In any significant rainstorm, avoid driving through standing water if you cannot tell how deep it is.

If you must go to an evacuation center, it is important to carefully select what you take with you. Do not bring more than you can carry, but be sure to bring your go bag with you.

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Water Treatment

To maintain high water quality in the county’s water distribution system, Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department will temporarily modify the disinfection process used to treat our drinking water. The county will be using a somewhat stronger disinfection process to produce chlorine residual instead of a chloramine residual from June 15, 2009 to July 15, 2009. The county will also increase hydrant flushing during this time. This is a preventative maintenance process.

Customers served by the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department may notice a slight chlorine taste or odor in their tap water during this period. These temporary conditions will not cause adverse health effects.

If you are especially sensitive to the taste or odor of chlorine, keep an open container of drinking water in your refrigerator for a few hours to allow the chlorine to dissipate.

Users of home dialysis machines, owners of tropical fish and managers of stores and restaurants with fish and shellfish holding tanks are advised to seek professional advice as the method for removing chlorine residuals differs from removing chloramine residuals from tap water.

Should you need more information on this change in the water treatment process, please call the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department at (561) 740-4600, option #3.

http://www.pbcgov.com/newsroom/0609/06-01-09_chlorine.htm

Lawn Maintenance

If you find that your lawn dries out quickly and needs more frequent watering than other lawns in your neighborhood, there are ways to minimize waterings.

1. Keeping your grass relatively tall will help the plants reduce moisture evaporation by shading the soil.

For More: http://www.hometips.com/repair-fix/lawn-conserving-water.html

Are You Exposed?

Unfortunately, we have all heard the horror story about the homeowner who comes back home after a long day of work only to find that his toilet is leaking and his master bedroom is flooded. The homeowner recalls today is a Tuesday, the scheduled day that the cleaning service has been cleaning his home for the past 9 months, and comes to the conclusion that cleaning service is responsible for the flood. He found the service in the local newspaper at an unbeatable price, but he did not inquire about licensing or insurance. After fighting with the cleaning service for hours, the homeowner realizes the damage caused to the home is his responsibility because the service has no insurance. 

A woman sees a truck with a gutter cleaning advertisement in her neighbor’s driveway and realizes her house could also use a good gutter cleaning. While the contractor is packing up his truck she inquires about an estimate. The contractor is climbing the ladder to check her gutters on her roof when all of a sudden he falls off and breaks his arm. Little did the woman know, the contractor did not have workman’s comp and she is now responsible for the cost of his treatment. She thought she was safe because of her homeowner’s insurance. This turned out to be quite an expensive estimate. 

In today’s economy, many contractors are forgoing insurance due to the cost. So, you may ask, how does this affect you? If you are using contractors, like the examples above, (i.e. cleaning services, carpenters, painters, electricians, plumbers, handymen, etc.) that are not licensed, bonded, and insured, you are putting yourself at risk. Don’t let your home become victim to a contractor. Below are brief definitions of licensed, bonded, and insured as well a few tips to keep in mind when choosing a contractor. 

Licensed, Bonded, and Insured 

• Licensed – A licensed contractor is someone who holds a license issued by a party guaranteeing that the individual is a professional with certification.
• Bonded – A contractor who is bonded provides protection for a customer in the event that valuables are taken from the customer’s home.
• Insured – An insured contractor provides customers with protection in the event of an accident to and individual or to the property.

Tips When Choosing a Contractor 

• Ask the contractor if he/she is licensed, bonded, and insured.
• Request to see a contractor’s certificate of liability insurance.
• Inquire about references.

Granting a contractor access to your home is a major decision and one that requires much thought. While we are all looking for a “quick fix” make sure that you are using a contractor that is licensed, bonded, and insured. I can assure you that the extra time spent doing the research will benefit you immensely and could, in the event of an accident or a catastrophe, protect your home and your assets. Choose the right contractors and you can rest assured that your home will be taken care of. 

Gardens Home Management Services is the premiere home management company in the Palm Beach Gardens region of South Florida. Our company meets all of the requirements listed above through our customized approach to home management. Not only are all of our contractors licensed, bonded, and insured, but as a company, we have one of the highest limits of insurance in the homecare industry. To learn more about our services and how we can give you the peace-of-mind you deserve, request a free consultation or call 561-625-5700.

Tropical Storm Preparedness

Since flooding and high winds can occur many hours before a Tropical Storm or hurricane makes landfall, it is critical evacuees leave their homes immediately if instructed to do so by emergency officials. Evacuees are encouraged to seek shelter with friends or family or outside evacuation zones when possible.

http://www.homecarepro.com/home-care-tips/Tropical-Storm

Dreaded Hurricane Season

With the dreaded hurricane season only a few weeks away, all South Florida residents need to start preparing. Don’t let your home go unprotected this hurricane season.

http://www.homecarepro.com/home-care-tips/hurricane-preparation