How to Prepare For Winter Storms in Portage County.

9/28/2019 (Permalink)

In Portage County winter storms can cause water damage.

In Portage County winter storms can cause water damage.  Just a thin coating of ice can result in a travel nightmare, and heavier amounts will severely damage trees and power lines. Ice can increase the weight of branches by 30 times. A 1/2-inch accumulation on power lines can add 500 pounds of extra weight.

Ice accumulations are caused by freezing rain. Freezing rain is a result of snow falling through an above-freezing warm layer in the atmosphere above the surface of the earth, which melts the snowflakes into rain. The rain drops then move into a thin layer of below-freezing air right near the surface of the earth, allowing them to freeze on contact to the ground, trees, cars and other objects.

SERVPRO of Portage County put together tips on how to prepare for an ice storm:

• Avoid driving on icy roads for your safety and others.
• Be sure to charge cell phones and laptops ahead of time, and have portable outlet chargers if needed.
• Plan for pets to come inside, and store adequate food and water for them.
• Children should never play around ice-covered trees.
• Think about safe alternate power sources you could use if you lose heat, such as a fireplace, wood/coal stove or portable space heaters.
• Never use portable generators, camp stoves and grills inside your home or garage.
• Use flashlights during power outages instead of candles to prevent the risk of fire.  

Before the Power Goes Out: Food Safety

• Check to ensure that the freezer temperature is at or below 0 degrees and the refrigerator is at or below 40 degrees.
• In case of a power outage, the appliance thermometers will indicate the temperatures in the refrigerator and freezer to help you determine if the food is safe.
• Freeze containers of water for ice to help keep food cold in the freezer, refrigerator, or coolers in case the power goes out.
• Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerated food cold.

 When the Power Goes Out: Food Safety

• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
• The refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened.
• A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours if it is unopened.
• Buy dry or block ice to keep the refrigerator as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time.

We know how devastating a storm can be, but we are here to help for all of your water damage and restoration needs! Call SERVPRO of Portage County, (330) 677-4483,  to help get your home restored efficiently.