Preparation is the best protection for your home and loved ones against the dangers of violent storms and hurricanes. Flash flooding, high winds, severe thunderstorms, and power outages are common throughout New Hampshire and Vermont in the summertime.
Use the following checklist to prepare if a strong storm is heading your way.
Stay informed about storm progression and adapt to changing conditions
- Sign up for your community’s emergency alert warning system. Listen for emergency information and alerts.
- If you live in a place where hurricanes are common, become familiar with your hurricane evacuation zone, the evacuation route, and shelter locations.
- Rivers in parts of New Hampshire and Vermont can rise quickly and sometimes with devastating results. Be aware of rising water levels, and evacuate if necessary.
- Stay in touch with community organizations and emergency services if you need to leave your home. When flooding occurs, temporary shelters are often established.
- Know alternate routes if roads are flooded. Never try to cross severely flooded roads in your car. Keep map(s) of the area available.
What to keep on hand for emergency storm supplies
- Gather and/or restock your emergency survival kit supplies, including the following:
- Water: 1 gallon per person per day (3-day supply for evacuation; 2-week supply for home)
- Food: Nonperishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation; 2-week supply for home)
- Flashlight
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio, such as an NOAA weather radio
- Extra batteries
- First-aid kit
- Medications (7-day supply) and medical items: Hearing aids, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, etc.
- Multipurpose tool
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items
- Cellphone and charger
- Emergency blanket: Waterproof, windproof, easily packable and shred-resistant
- Extra set of car keys and house keys
- Baby and pet supplies (if applicable)
- Manual can opener
How to prep your vehicles and home for severe storms
- Make sure your vehicle is in good working order. Keep the gas tank full. Stock emergency supplies and a change of clothes in the trunk
- Protect your property. Consider hurricane shutters, plywood, sandbags, a generator, and water pumps. Cover all of your home’s windows.
- Cut weak tree branches and branches that could break off in high winds and cause property damage.
- Store any loose items that could blow around, including garbage cans, lawn furniture, and planters, in a safe place.
- Move all appliances onto masonry blocks or concrete.
- Move furniture and electronic devices off the floor.
- Remove area rugs from floors so they won’t get wet and grow mold or mildew.
- If you have an emergency generator, fill the fuel tank. Store any extra fuel safely away from heat sources and open flames.
- Seal any exterior gaps, holes, and cracks.
- Close all interior doors, as well as all windows and exterior doors. Closing the interior doors keeps high winds from whipping around your home and possibly putting extra pressure on your roof.
- Charge your cell phones so you will have a full battery if you lose power.
- Shut off electrical service at the main breaker.
Remember these portable generator safety tips
While there are many benefits to using an emergency generator, there are also several hazards that you should consider:
1. Carbon monoxide (CO)
Generators release an enormous amount of carbon monoxide. A single generator produces as much carbon monoxide as 100 cars, according to the National Institute of Standards and Safety. Can you imagine tubes connected to the exhaust of all those cars releasing dangerous fumes into your garage?
Generators should be run only in a well-ventilated area, preferably outside. A carport is a safe place for running a generator but a cellar, attached porch or enclosed garage, even when ventilated, is not.
If you’re setting up your generator outdoors, be careful not to place it close to a vent, open window or door because toxic gases can enter your home. Buy one or more carbon monoxide detectors to warn you of toxic levels of CO. The detectors should be battery-operated (or have a backup battery in case you lose AC power) and placed on each level of your home, preferably high on a wall near the bedrooms.
2. Fuel
Gasoline is highly combustible. Your generator should be checked for leaks once a month and every time it’s used or placed into storage. Most portable generator tanks hold several hours’ worth of fuel, but not enough for extended power usage. Therefore, many homeowners store additional fuel in portable containers to replace the fuel in the generator tank when the tank runs low. Make sure your supplemental fuel is stored in a safe location.
3. Weight of the generator
Generators are portable, but not all of them are equipped with wheels. Few portable generators, other than the smallest, can safely be lifted without risking injury. Occasional lifting may be necessary, such as when you bring the unit home, when it must go out for repairs or maintenance, or when it is to be used off premises. You should consider purchasing a unit with wheels and lifting handles.
4. Wiring
Most generators are designed to be independent of household wiring. Extension cords may be run from outlets on the generator to appliances or equipment that require electricity, and they should be rated for outdoor use in wet environments. Heavy-duty cable is recommended, typically bearing a wire gauge rating of 10 or 12 AWG. You should never connect household extension cords directly to your generator.
5. An ungrounded system
If the power from the generator is brought to a transfer box, an electrician will be able to ground your system properly. However, equipment and appliances that are directly connected to the generator will not have grounding protection unless you take certain steps. Most generators have a connection point (i.e., a bolt connected to the frame) to which a grounding wire can be attached.
6. Operational hazards
The following precautions should be considered whenever operating a generator:
Don’t touch the conducting parts of a generator with wet hands or when standing in water.
Start the generator and let it run for a few minutes before connecting it to a transfer panel or an extension cord.
Reverse this process when it is time to turn off the generator by disconnecting the cords and then shutting it down.
Before refueling, disconnect the load, turn off the generator and let it cool for a couple of minutes before adding fuel.
Keep an ABC-rated fire extinguisher handy.
Before buying a generator
Determine if a 240-volt outlet. (for example, to run a stove or clothes dryer). Most generators produce 120 volts, but some also have a 240-volt outlet. You may want to check out the manufacturer’s website, where detailed product specifications and alternative units are listed.
Consider this information before you purchase or use a generator — and the next time there is a loss of power at your home.
What to do before a severe storm arrives
- Make plans for your pets.
- Document any property damage with photographs.
- Review your insurance policies. Do you have flood insurance?
- Seal critical documents in a waterproof container. Any important documents you don’t need during the emergency should be kept safely offsite.
- Family and emergency contact information
- Keep extra cash on hand.
We can feel a false sense of security, but storm flooding and storm-related damages can happen quickly. In New Hampshire and Vermont towns, roads can easily wash out and cut off routes to safety and supplies. Preparation is your best defense.
If damages happen to your home or auto due to storm activity, get yourself and your loved ones to safety first. If you suffer damages or loss, your agent will help you file a claim so you can get back on your feet as soon as possible.
This content is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing professional, financial, medical or legal advice. You should contact your licensed professional to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem.
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