Warm months mean severe weather in the form of storms:  lightning, rain, flooding, and/or damaging winds.  Are you and your family prepared?  Just like a fire safety plan, getting ready for the effects of severe weather should be done in advance. Follow the tips below to make sure you are storm-ready: 

• Know your area’s evacuation routes and keep your car’s fuel tank full. An impending storm is not a good time to run to the gas station, and if severe weather has already blown through, power to run the gas pump could be an issue. 
• Contact your insurance agent, and make sure all your policies provide the correct coverage. 
• Outside, check any trees or large shrubs for diseased or damaged branches, and have them removed. Any trees with major damage should come down. 

• Consider installing ground anchors for small outdoor buildings, so you can apply straps to them in case of high winds. You are not only protecting your own property but those around you as well. 
• Have a family plan in place and have emergency contacts stored in every family member’s cell phone. At least one contact should be outside of your area. 
• Practice drills as a family! Even children can learn what to do in case of emergencies, and older children can help with the younger ones.  
• Create an emergency kit with the following items: 

• first aid kit (here’s a great DIY kit) 

• at least three days’ worth of non-perishable food and water for each family member if you are evacuating, more if staying in place 
• battery-operated radio, flashlights, and extra batteries 
• cleaning items 
• important documents or certified copies 
• Find a more extensive kit checklist here. 

• Teach yourself these suggested safety skills from ready.gov. 
• Learn about different types of severe weather, and what to do if you find yourself needing to prepare for each. 

Do you already have all of these in place from years past? Great! But it is a good idea to go back to each and update any necessary information and replace outdated items in your emergency kit.  If you do nothing else, have a family plan, children included, so everyone will know what to do when severe weather strikes. 

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Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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