Before the storm:

1. Conduct a pre-storm assessment of your property and identify trouble spots before a storm hits.
Some potential hazards to look for on your property:

• Cracks in tree trunks or major limbs
• Hollow, aged and decayed trees
• One-sided or significantly leaning trees
• Branches leaning more than 45 degrees over the roof
• Anything in close proximity to utility lines
• Shelf-like fungus or mushrooms
• Trees with dangerous leans
• *Note: Several of these features may suggest that the tree may be suffering from a condition called heart rot or possibly buckling under its own weight, and causing danger.

2. Take measures to prevent damage.
After assessing possible hazards to your property, you and/or your arborist may need to take any number of measures to limit potential damage.

• Remove dead, diseased or damaged limbs
• Have leaning trees inspected and consider removing those with large cavities
• Prune branches too close to your house and over the street
• Check your gutters, and remove debris to prevent water damage. Many STIHL blowers can use optional gutter attachments.
• Call a professional to assess and potentially remove any within close proximity to utility lines; DO NOT attempt to do this yourself

During the storm:

3. Don’t try to be a hero.
Your property is not more important than your life and the lives of your loved ones. Prepare in advance, follow guidelines for evacuations or sheltering in place and don’t hesitate to get assistance prior to cleaning up storm debris.

After The Storm:

4. Put safety first.
It’s important to protect yourself as well as your property.

• Be on the alert. Stay away from utility lines and keep an eye out for dangers both up in hanging branches and down on damaged trunks.
• Broken limbs may still be lodged in trees, but can easily and unexpectedly fall. Loggers call these “widow-makers.”
• Look for trees leaning against or touching downed phone lines or power lines – a tree in contact with a power line, and the ground at the base of the tree, can be energized and dangerous.
• If you’re skilled enough to do work yourself, suit up properly, wear the proper attire and protective equipment. Many times we see newscasts of people wearing shorts and flip-flops to clean up storm damage; this type of attire is not appropriate for this type of work. Work safe; Be safe!
• When in doubt, call a professional arborist or logger.

5. Evaluate tree damage.
Evaluate your trees carefully by asking the following:

• Other than storm damage, is the tree basically healthy?
• Are major limbs and/or the leader branch still remaining?
• Is at least 50 percent of the tree’s crown still intact?
• Are there remaining branches that can form a new branch structure?

If you answer “yes” to the majority of these questions, there is a good chance the tree can be saved. When in doubt, consult a professional.
6. Take Steps to Repair Minor Damage & Debris.

• Remove any broken branches or stubs still attached to the tree.
• Remove jagged remains of limbs to reduce the risk of decay agents entering the wound.
• Smaller branches should be pruned at the point where they join larger ones.
• Resist the urge to over-prune. Don’t worry if the tree’s appearance is not perfect.

7. Do not try to do it all yourself.
Evaluate what you can handle and what a professional should deal with – anything not on the ground should definitely be handled by a professional.
Some of these things could be a threat to your life, so it makes sense to have a professional do the work if you’re not absolutely confident in your skills or if any of the below situations apply:

• Large limbs are broken or hanging or overhead chainsaw work is needed.
• If a tree is uprooted or downed, it can create an unnatural pattern of pressure points and tension. A chainsaw operator may be in severe danger if attempting to cut a tensioned limb or trunk (called a “springpole”) – it may have an extremely violent, catapult-like reaction.
• If branches are too close or touching utility lines, report immediately to your local utility company. NEVER attempt to move downed utility lines.
• Any task you have not been properly trained to handle or are uncomfortable undertaking.

8. Document, Document, Document!
You’ll need to document the damage that has been done by the storm as soon as possible, particularly if your homeowner’s insurance only covers certain types of damage. Take photos of the damage; keep receipts, emails and correspondence from your insurance agent and contractor(s).
Be sure to document any potential problems, such as mold, crumbling drywall, roof damage, structural damage or exposed power lines. It’s a good idea to have pictures on file of the normal state of your house, so when the storm hits you have documentation of the pre-disaster condition of your home and property.

It’s National Grilling Month, and if you’re like us, you’re going to be grilling out every chance you get! But, as the National Fire Protection Association warns us, July is the peak month of grill fires, which affect an average of 8,900 homes a year.

As you get ready to celebrate National Grilling Month, remember to keep you and your family safe with these helpful tips:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=204&v=65RCHLNIKa8

Though the 4^th of July is often a day of family fun, some members of your family may have a hard time with parties or fireworks. Here are some tips to protect your pets:

 

There are actions that should be taken before, during and after an event that are unique to each hazard. Identify the hazards that have happened or could happen in your area and plan for the unique actions for each.  Share the hazard-specific information with family members and include pertinent materials in your family disaster plan.

Make sure you understand how you will be notified for each kind of disaster, both natural and man-made. You should also inquire about alert and warning systems for workplace, schools and other locations. Methods of getting your attention vary from community to community. Richland County Emergency Management relies upon WRCO (100.9FM) and Nixle to reach community members, as well as tornado warning sirens or in very rare circumstances, volunteers and emergency workers may go door-to-door.

Depending upon the nature of the emergency and your circumstances, one of the first important decisions is whether to stay where you are or evacuate. You should understand and plan for both possibilities. Learn more about Evacuation & Sheltering In Place.

• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio for critical updates from the National Weather Service (NWS).
• Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
• Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
• Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available.
• Postpone outdoor games and activities.
• Consider spending the warmest part of the day in public buildings such as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls, and other community facilities. Circulating air can cool the body by increasing the perspiration rate of evaporation.
• Eat well-balanced, light, and regular meals. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.
• Drink plenty of water; even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine. Persons who have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease; are on fluid-restricted diets; or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a doctor before increasing liquid intake.
• Limit intake of alcoholic beverages.
• Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays.
• Protect face and head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
• Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat, and take frequent breaks.
• Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.
• Avoid extreme temperature changes.
• Check on your animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the heat. Go to a designated public shelter if your home loses power during periods of extreme heat.