2018 Hurricane Season: Make an Emergency Plan

May 29, 2018 by gibson Leave a Comment

Preparing for the 2018 Hurricane Season: How to Make an Emergency Plan

Forecastors at the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project (CSU), a leading authority on the topic are predicting another busy hurricane season – slightly above historical averages. Prepare for the 2018 hurricane season by making an emergency plan.

There are four key components to an emergency plan. These include:

Determine how to stay updated on the latest emergency alerts and warnings.
Prepare a shelter plan – Create an in-home shelter plan and an off-site shelter plan.
Map out the best evacuation route so you can leave quickly should you need to.
Make a family/household communication plan.

Stay Updated on the Latest Emergency Alerts and Warnings

Hurricane-related Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are sent by state and local public safety officials, the National Weather Service, or even the President of the United States. WEAs look similar to text messages on your cell phone but usually have a unique sound and vibration, repeated twice. They are usually short messages and will include: the type and time of the alert, instructions on any action you should take, and which agency issued the alert.

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national public warning system. During an emergency it broadcasts alerts via satellite providers, cable television systems, etc. to communicate emergency information to the public. You can find additional information about the National Emergency Alert System (EAS) on the FEMA website at: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-alert-system.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio All Hazards is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. Visit www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/ to learn more about the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards network and to find a network station in your area.

Create an Emergency Shelter Plan

Communicating during an emergency can often be difficult if not impossible. To help keep your loved ones safe, you should put at least two emergency shelter plans in place: a plan for sheltering in place in your home, and a plan for evacuating to a nearby shelter.

Sheltering in Place

Often the best option for finding shelter is staying right where you are. Designate an area in your home where all family members should gather in case of emergency. A basement or storm shelter is usually best but if that’s not an option, and interior room (with no windows) or hallway is best. Preparing a disaster kit and storing it in there is also highly recommended.

Finding a Shelter

When sheltering in your home is not the best option, such as when the local authorities recommend or mandate an evacuation, you should put an alternative shelter plan in place.

Here are a few options:

Talk to friends and relatives to see if you can stay with them in case of an emergency.
Or create a list of hotels/motels to contact and make a reservation should evacuation seem likely.
Research mass care shelter options in your area. (Keep in mind pets are often not welcome at these facilities.)
Search for open shelters by texting SHELTER + a zip code to 43362 (4FEMA). Standard rates apply.

Map Out Your Best Evacuation Route

Plan how you will leave and where you will go in case of an emergency evacuation. Plan ahead by mapping out and documenting a primary and backup evacuation route. Keep in mind storms can often knock out services such as cell phone service and/or GPS – so keep an old school, paper map handy with your evacuation plans.

If you have a car, and an evacuation seems likely, keep your gas tank full. Fuel can sometimes be difficult to find during an emergency as stores can run out or close down in the area. A full tank can get you further out of the evacuation area faster and further away from the evacuation area where more fueling options are more readily available.

Put a Family/Household Communication Plan in Place

We can’t emphasize this enough: communicating during an emergency can often be difficult if not impossible. Put a family or household communication plan in place before an emergency to help get your loved ones reunited as quickly as possible.

Here are a few communication guidelines to follow:

Choose an out of town friend or relative to use as a point of contact. Send all messages through that designated person.
Designate a predetermined meeting place for all family members to go if you/they are unable to return home.
Keep important phone numbers and emergency contacts with you at all times. Make sure all members of the family, especially children have this information.
Don’t forget about social media. You can communicate a message to loved ones via a social channel and can even mark yourself as safe on Facebook to let friends and family know about your status.

Stay Safe this Hurricane Season

As a Florida area business and seawall builder, we have seen first hand the damage a hurricane can do. We hope these tips are helpful and that all our friends, neighbors, customers, etc., – everyone – stays safe this 2018 hurricane season.

And if you are interested in learning more about our services, and how a seawall could help protect you and your property this hurricane season, give us a call.

The 2018 Hurricane Season

May 28, 2018 by gibson Leave a Comment

The 2018 Hurricane Season: When is it? What should I expect?

The 2018 hurricane season is upon us. Arm yourself with information in preparation for the 2018 hurricane season.

When is the 2018 Hurricane Season in Florida?

Hurricane season in Florida officially begins on June 1st and runs through November 30th. But most storms typically hit during peak season, between August and October.

Alberto attempted to kick the hurricane season off early, making landfall over the Florida Panhandle on Memorial Day weekend, but luckily Alberto didn’t gain enough strength and only made it into the subtropical storm category.

2018 Hurricane Season Predictions

Forecastors at the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project (CSU), a leading authority on the topic are predicting another busy hurricane season. They predict the 2018 hurricane season to be slightly above historical averages. Here are the numbers:

The average number of hurricanes each season (averaged out over 30 years):

12 named storms
6 hurricanes
2 major hurricanes.

CSU is predicting the 2018 hurricane season to have:

14 named storms
7 hurricanes
3 major hurricanes.

How the 2018 Hurricane Season Compares to 2017

Although CSU predicts an above average hurricane season, they are predicting less activity than the previous year.

Here are the numbers from 2017:

18 named storms
10 hurricanes
6 major hurricanes

How to Prepare for the 2018 Hurricane Season

Being prepared for the 2018 hurricane season can make a big impact on how you spend your summer in Florida. Proper preparedness upfront can make clean up and repairs a lot easier down the line.

Review Your Florida Homeowners Insurance Policy

Take some time to sit down and review the details of your Florida Homeowners Insurance Policy. You may need to consider increasing your level of coverage if:

You made any improvements to your home or property since you last reviewed the policy.
You’ve made any expensive purchases, such as jewelry, antiques or art. Make sure all documents have been submitted to ensure these items are specifically listed and covered.

Also keep in mind that certain types of flood damage is often not covered by your homeowners insurance policy. If you live on or near a body of water, you may want to consider adding a flood insurance policy to make sure you have protection from all the types of water damage hurricanes can cause.

If You Have an Existing Seawall, Have it Inspected

Seawalls are a great way to help protect your property from some of the damage a hurricane can cause. But a seawall is only as strong as its weakest part.

Regular seawall inspections by seawall service professionals, such as the experts at Gibson Marine Construction, can identify areas in need of repair. Having these areas repaired and/or replaced will help stave off the misfortune of the more costly damage a busy hurricane season could bring.

Install a Seawall to Protect from Hurricane Damage

If you live on the waterfront and don’t have a seawall, you may want to consider having one installed to help protect your property from hurricane or other water damage. Call Gibson Marine Construction to learn how a seawall can help protect you and your property this hurricane season.

The Repair BEFORE the Storm

June 9, 2016 by gibson Leave a Comment

Before your weather app begins sending out lightning and water spout alerts is the time to conduct inspections of your dock, deck, boatlift, and seawall. Living on Florida’s Gulf Coast makes for singularly beautiful scenery, but in this case, with great scenery comes great responsibility. You never want to find out after the storm that the integrity of any of your property’s marine structures are breached. The effects of storm winds and tide surges only aggravate the condition. The way to find out that your Florida dock is under stress is not when your foot plunges through one of the boards. It is before.

Hurricane Preparedness details are everywhere: in offices, schools, and free online guides. There are many cautionary tales about repairs in storm aftermath. So with the clock having already started on June 1 for Florida’s official hurricane season, we’ve got a good six months of mild and severe storm systems ahead of us.

With Tropical Storm Colin safely behind us, and with months to go until the season officially ends on November 30, there’s still time to prepare your waterfront property for the season.

Getting Ready for Hurricane Season in Florida

We recommend having all your marine structures, particularly Florida seawalls, professionally inspected.

If you live in a multi-family building like a condo or townhome development, make sure to attend board meetings to gain assurance that the structures common to the residents are appropriately inspected and repaired.
If a private home, it may appear that common sense rules the day and dock issues are apparent. But they aren’t. Most Florida docks are built using wood piles and decking. Pile caps are typically connected with stainless or galvanized bolts. In addition to the eventual eroding of these connections, it is most certainly “what lies beneath” that impacts your dock’s integrity. Whether or not your dock is moored in salt water, water itself wears at structures. Add in the ubiquitous marine-boring organisms (whose home you are sharing) and you have a recipe for destruction.

This is why we reiterate that a professional marine inspection is your best bet – your dock’s surface may appear innocent enough, but a complete in- and below-water inspection is key.

Preparing Your Boat Lift

Storing your boat during certain times of the season is standard operation, it is also a good time to make certain the lift is in good repair. Once the boat is off the lift, your storm preparation can entail lowering the cradle on the lift all the way to the bottom. With the cradle in the water it will be more protected from winds and storm surge waves. This effort will support the protection of the lift itself and the dock.

For low-profile installations: protect your boat lift motors, switches, and covers by removing them and storing in a safe, dry place.

For lifts with sealed direct-drive systems: remove the gear unit after lowering the cable down to its lowest point as the cable will free spool back down regardless.

For all lift types: tighten all the nuts and bolts on the lift so you don’t lose any small parts during the storm.

Contact us at (727) 942-3111 for questions about the care and maintenance of these essential structures. It only takes one storm to make a difference.