During extremely cold weather, staying warm and safe can be a challenge. Learn how to prepare for winter storms, prevent cold temperature-related health problems, and protect yourself during all stages of a winter storm by reviewing the CDC winter weather preparedness guidelines by following the link below:
- Prepare your emergency supply kits (home and auto).
- Monitor your thermostats in all interior areas,
- Bring your pets indoors.
- Turn off outside features, faucets, spigots or lines, clear lines of water & insulate wherever you can.
- If you have a pool, contact your pool service provider for winterization assistance.
- Drip your faucets. Slow moving of water though a line will prevent ice accumulation.
- Insulate any exposed pipes located in attics or crawl spaces to prevent frozen pipe ruptures.
- If you will use your chimney, be sure the chimney is clean and clear and that the flue is open.
- Verify smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are functioning.
- Make sure your vehicle is full of gas.
- Keep gutters free of debris, ice, and snow which can pull down your gutters and cause roof damage.
- Trim tree branches: The weight of snow and ice on tree branched during a storm can cause damage your home and loss of power. Remove any dead limbs or branches that could cause serious damage if they were to fall.
- If you use a space heater, be sure to use extreme caution and do not leave them unattended.
- If your pipes freeze, locate and close the main water shutoff valve as soon as possible and before temperatures rise above freezing.
- Inspect pipes for damage, including those in attics and crawl spaces, where it is safe to do so.
- As temperatures increase above freezing, watch and listen for signs of water leaks.
- If a pipe is leaking, do not turn on the water. Open all faucets including those outside to drain remaining water from pipes and call a licensed plumber for repairs.
- If no leaks are detected, turn water back on slowly. Continue to check for leaks before turning water on completely.
- Never use torches or heat guns to facilitate thawing as these can create fire hazards.
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Claim Procedures
In addition, you should set aside damaged property for inspection and assemble an inventory of damaged items. If your building is flooded, please contact a mitigation contractor immediately to start the water extraction process.