Preparing for a Storm
Austin residents enjoy warm and sunny weather for a majority of the year; this is one of our city's largest attractions. However, it is a simple fact that no area can be perfect all of the time. During the late summer we do get the occasional thunderstorm or tropical storm. This is no reason to worry, however. There are simple ways to protect your home and prepare for storms.Keep a kit for worst care scenarios in your home. Make sure the supplies are fresh and in working condition. Supplies to keep include:
- Flashlights and working batteries
- Canned food and a manual can opener
- A full first aid kit
- Any prescription drugs you take
- Cash, in case ATMs are out of service for a few days
Use surge protectors. These are basically extension cords with an important extra feature; if an electrical storm sends a power surge through your home, they will protect your appliances from the serious damage that can result.
Draining swimming pools is not necessary. A pool that has been correctly installed or designed should be equipped with flooding protection. If you wish, you may drain up to a foot of water, but any more than that is not required and may actually lead to your pool being damaged.
