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    • 2021 HURRICANE GUIDE

Hurricane Cleanup and Recovery

6/27/2022

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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued safety information pages on appropriate hurricane safety measures.
The potential for fatal accidents involving electrocution from power lines, as well as serious injuries associated with cleanup and recovery efforts for workers and the public can be avoided by observing appropriate safety and health precautions while performing cleanup and utility restoration operations.
This includes coordination with control centers responsible for power circuits so that workers do not enter areas where there are live wires.
Information on avoiding hazards and safely cleaning up after a hurricane is available on the OSHA and CDC websites to help workers who are involved in recovery and restoration efforts.



Common hazards include:
  • Cleanup health hazards
  • Falls
  • Heat/Sun
  • Fungi
  • Flood cleanup
  • Electrical
  • Animals: Insects/Reptiles/Snakes
  • Bloodborne pathogens
Cleanup Hazards
Cleanup work of any kind is hazardous, but flood conditions make it even more so. Following the procedures listed below should help improve your safety while cleaning up.
Health Tips
Take frequent rest breaks when lifting heavy, water-laden objects. Avoid overexertion and practice good lifting techniques. To help prevent injury, use teams of two or more to move bulky objects. You should avoid lifting any materials that weigh more than 50 pounds per person and you should use proper automated lifting assistance devices if practical.
When working in hot/sunny environments, have plenty of drinking water available, use sunscreen and take frequent rest breaks. Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
Be sure that a first-aid kit is available to disinfect any cuts or abrasions. Protect open cuts and abrasions with waterproof gloves or dressings.
You should wash your hands often during the day, especially before smoking, eating, drinking or applying cosmetics.
General Precautions
  • Use a wooden stick or pole to check flooded areas for pits, holes and protruding objects before entering.
  • Ensure that all ladders and scaffolds are properly secured prior to use.
  • Conduct a preliminary worksite inspection to verify stability before entering a flooded or formerly flooded building or before operating vehicles over roadways or surfaces. Don’t work in or around any flood-damaged building until it has been examined and certified as safe for work by a registered professional engineer or architect.
  • Washouts, trenches, excavations and gullies must be supported, or their stability should be verified prior to worker entry. All trenches should be supported (e.g., with a trench box). If no support is available, the trench must be sloped at no less than a 1:1 (45°) angle for cohesive soil and 1:1½ (34°) angle for granular soils including gravel, sand and loamy sand, submerged soil or soil from which water is freely seeping.
  • A plan should be established for contacting medical personnel in the event of an emergency.
  • Report any obvious hazards (downed power lines, frayed electric wires, gas leaks or snakes) to appropriate authorities.
  • Avoid deadly carbon monoxide. Use fuel-powered generators, pressure washers, camp stoves and charcoal-burning devices outdoors. Do not bring them indoors or use them near an open window.
  • Use life vests when engaging in activities that could result in deep water exposure.
  • Use extreme caution when handling containers holding unknown substances or known toxic substances (e.g., floating containers of household or industrial chemicals). Contact the Environmental Protection Agency for information on disposal at the National Response Center (1-800-424-8802).
  • Do not use improvised surfaces (e.g., refrigerator racks) for cooking food or for boiling water to avoid exposure to heavy metals.
Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment
Always wear watertight boots with steel toe and insole, gloves, long pants and safety glasses during cleanup operations. Sneakers should not be worn because they will not prevent punctures, bites or crush injuries. Wear a hard hat if there is any danger of falling debris. Wear a NIOSH-approved respirator if working with moldy building materials or vegetable matter (hay, stored grain or compost).
When handling bleach or other chemicals, follow the directions on the package; wear eye, hand and face protection as appropriate; and have plenty of clean water available for eyewash and other first-aid treatments.
Electrical Hazards
Do not touch downed power lines or any object or water that is in contact with such lines. Treat all power lines as energized until you are certain that the lines have been de-energized.
Beware of overhead and underground lines when clearing debris. Extreme caution is necessary when moving ladders and other equipment near overhead power lines to avoid inadvertent contact.
If damage to an electrical system is suspected (e.g., if the wiring has been under water, you can smell burning insulation, wires are visibly frayed, or you see sparks), turn off the electrical system in the building and follow lock-out/tag-out procedures before beginning work. Do not turn the power back on until electrical equipment has been inspected by a qualified electrician. When using a generator, be sure that the main circuit breaker is off and locked out prior to starting the generator. This will prevent inadvertently energized power lines from back feed electrical energy from generators and help protect utility line workers from possible electrocution.
Be aware that de-energized power lines may become energized by a secondary power source such as a portable backup generator.
Any electrical equipment, including extension cords, used in wet environments must be marked, as appropriate, for use in wet locations and must be undamaged. Be sure that all connections are out of water.
All cord-connected, electrically operated tools and equipment must be grounded or double insulated.
Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) must be used in all wet locations. Portable GFCIs can be purchased at hardware stores.
Fire Protection
Immediately evacuate any building that has a gas leak until the leak is controlled and the area is ventilated.
Be sure an adequate number of multi-rated fire extinguishers are available and re-evaluate the fire evacuation plan.
Be sure all fire exits are clear of debris and sandbags.
Flood Cleanup
Flooding can disrupt water purification and sewage disposal systems, overflowing of toxic waste sites, and dislodgement of chemicals previously stored above ground. Although most floods do not cause serious outbreaks of infectious disease or chemical poisonings, they can cause sickness in workers and others who come into contact with contaminated floodwater. In addition, flooded areas may contain electrical or fire hazards connected with downed power lines.
Floodwater
Floodwater often contains infectious organisms, including intestinal bacteria, such as E. coli, salmonella and shigella; hepatitis A virus; and agents of typhoid, paratyphoid and tetanus. The signs and symptoms experienced by the victims of waterborne microorganisms are similar, even though they are caused by different pathogens. These symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, muscle aches and fever. Most cases of sickness associated with flood conditions are brought about by ingesting contaminated food or water. Tetanus, however, can be acquired from contaminated soil or water entering broken areas of the skin, such as cuts, abrasions or puncture wounds. Tetanus is an infectious disease that affects the nervous system and causes severe muscle spasms, known as lockjaw. The symptoms may appear weeks after exposure and may begin as a headache, but later develop into difficulty swallowing or opening the jaw.
Floodwaters also may be contaminated by agricultural or industrial chemicals or by hazardous agents present at flooded hazardous waste sites.
Flood cleanup crew members that must work near flooded industrial sites also may be exposed to chemically contaminated floodwater. Although different chemicals cause different health effects, the signs and symptoms most frequently associated with chemical poisoning are headaches, skin rashes, dizziness, nausea, excitability, weakness and fatigue.
Pools of standing or stagnant water become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, increasing the risk of encephalitis, West Nile virus or other mosquito-borne diseases. The presence of displaced wild and domesticated animals in populated areas increases the risk of diseases caused by animal bites (e.g., rabies) as well as diseases carried by fleas and ticks. Other displaced creatures may be present such as insects/spiders and reptiles/snakes. Be watchful for these and take necessary precautions to stay away from them.
Protect Yourself
After a major flood, it is often difficult to maintain good hygiene during cleanup operations. To avoid waterborne disease, it is important to wash your hands with soap and clean running water, especially before work breaks, meal breaks, and at the end of the work shift. Workers should assume that any water in flooded or surrounding areas is not safe unless the local or state authorities have specifically declared it to be safe. If no safe water supply is available for washing, use bottled water, water that has been boiled for at least 10 minutes or chemically disinfected water. To disinfect water, use five drops of liquid household bleach to each gallon of water, and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. These methods will kill most pathogens but will not remove hazardous chemicals. If water is not available, use alcohol-based products made for washing hands. Water storage containers should be rinsed periodically with a household bleach solution.
Remember that a building’s own water systems can become contaminated in a flood. Hot water heaters, circulating pumps or other water system openings can become contaminated with floodwaters. When this occurs, building drinking water may not be safe even though the local water supply has been cleared for consumption. Building water should be flushed and tested for the same chemical and biological contaminants that are tested in public water supplies.
Testing should include Legionella bacteria, which can proliferate in hot water systems. Water tests should be collected at multiple locations so distribution piping is included.
If water is suspected of being contaminated with hazardous chemicals, cleanup workers may need to wear special chemical protective outer clothing and goggles. Before entering a contaminated area that has been flooded, you should use plastic or rubber gloves, boots and other protective clothing needed to avoid contact with floodwater.
Decrease the risk of mosquito and other insect bites by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants and by using insect repellents. Wash your hands with soap and water that has been boiled or disinfected before preparing or eating foods, after using the bathroom, after participating in flood cleanup activities, and after handling articles contaminated by floodwaters.
What to do if Symptoms Develop

​If a cleanup worker experiences any of the signs or symptoms listed above, appropriate first-aid treatment and medical advice should be sought. If the skin is broken, particularly with a puncture wound or a wound in contact with potentially contaminated material, a tetanus vaccination may be needed if it has been five years or more since the individual’s last tetanus shot.
Tips to Remember
  • Before working in flooded areas, be sure your tetanus shot is current (given within the last 10 years). Wounds associated with a flood should be evaluated for risk; a physician may recommend a tetanus immunization.
  • Consider all water unsafe until local authorities announce that the public water supply is safe and building water is tested. Private wells will need to be tested and disinfected after floodwaters recede.
  • Do not use contaminated water to wash and prepare food, brush your teeth, wash dishes, or make ice.
  • Keep an adequate supply of safe water available for washing and potable water for drinking.
  • Be alert for chemically contaminated floodwater at industrial sites.
  • Use extreme caution with potential chemical and electrical hazards, which have great potential for fires and explosions. Floods have the strength to move and/or bury hazardous waste and chemical containers far from their normal storage places, creating a risk for those who come into contact with them. Any chemical hazards, such as a propane tank, should be handled by the authorized public authorities.
  • If the safety of a food or beverage is questionable, throw it out. Canned or bottled foods or beverages should first have labels removed. All outside surfaces should then be disinfected, and the contents should be re-labeled.
  • Seek immediate medical care for all animal, insect and reptile bites.
FungiFlood conditions contribute to the growth and transmission of many kinds of fungi, some of which can cause sickness. Cleanup workers are at increased risk of exposure to airborne fungi and their spores because they often handle moldy building materials, decaying vegetable matter, rotting waste material and other fungus-contaminated debris. The fungal material is carried into the respiratory tract when airborne dust particles are inhaled.
There are many different kinds of fungi, including mildew, molds, rusts and yeasts. Most of these are harmless, but some can cause respiratory and other disorders when workers inhale or come into contact with fungi. Inhalation is the route of exposure of most concern to flood cleanup workers.
When buildings are exposed to water infiltration, fungi will grow on any surface, which is a good nutrient. Good nutrients include a wide variety of common building materials like drywall ceiling tiles, wood and carpet. If cleanup begins within 48 hours following water impact, there is minimal risk from fungi exposure. After 48 hours, mold growth will occur and proliferate as long as there are nutrients and wet conditions. In a flood situation, this is especially a problem since we are often without power for an extended period of time.
If there is extensive visible mold growth (greater than 1000 square feet of building material) consideration should be given to obtaining professional assistance. A mold specialist will design a cleanup plan to address a building's specific needs. A mold remediation design will specify the scope and methodology. A properly executed remediation will offer the following benefits:
  • Ensure mold does not return after building reconstruction.
  • Ensure that areas of the building not water impacted are not contaminated during remediation.
  • Ensure following remediation buildings are safe to re-occupy.
  • Ensure activities are efficient which controls cost and reduces remediation time.
  • If some fungi cleanup is planned, we offer the following recommendations:
    • Individuals who have mold allergies or pre-existing pulmonary conditions like asthma or emphysema should not be exposed to mold-affected materials.
    • If individuals have signs and symptoms of mold exposure, they should cease cleanup work. Symptoms would include allergic reactions such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation and wheezing.
    • Individuals conducting cleanup should minimize fungal exposure by wearing respirators, gloves and eye protection. Use an N-95 NIOSH-approved disposable respirator.
  • Consider discarding all water-damaged materials. Articles that are visibly contaminated with mold should be discarded. When in doubt, throw it out.
  • Surfaces that have a light covering of mold should be scrubbed with warm, soapy water and rinsed with a disinfectant made of ½ cup liquid household bleach mixed in one gallon of water. You should use appropriate protective eyewear and cover the skin on fingers/hands.
  • After working with mold-contaminated materials, wash thoroughly, including the hair, scalp and nails.
In addition, repeated or prolonged contact of the skin with floodwater and continuous sweating can lead to fungal skin infections. These can be minimized or avoided by washing the skin with warm, soapy water and keeping it as dry as possible.
What to do if Symptoms DevelopIf a cleanup worker experiences severe allergic or skin symptoms or severe flu-like symptoms, he or she should seek medical advice. A health care provider can determine whether medication or any other precautions are necessary.
FallsAfter a hurricane, danger often remains.
Falls from unstable working surfaces and ladders, and falling objects pose a significant danger to recovery workers. Fall protection is required for those working six feet or more above the ground.
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Hurricane Air Conditioning Tips: How to Prepare HVACs for Hurricanes

6/27/2022

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It’s hard to believe hurricane season is already here.
And with Southeast Texas’ strong history, it’s always a good idea to be prepared.
Most people think of putting together a simple hurricane preparedness kit, but what about your HVAC unit?
You may not know, but there are a few ways you can prepare your unit for the storm season ahead.

             PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE BEFORE THE STORM

Check And Cover Your UnitA few days before the storm, check the surrounding area around your HVAC unit to ensure no objects could potentially damage it.
Double-check your unit’s tie-downs to make sure they can withstand 160MPH winds.
If not, you can upgrade them to endure the strongest of hurricanes.
Purchase a waterproof tarp to cover your unit to protect it from water damage.
Make sure the unit is turned off before you cover it and remove it before turning it back on after the storm.
You wouldn’t want to use the tarp any other time, but it’ll help keep heavy rain at bay and prevent mold and rust.
In addition to a tarp, invest in a surge protector for your unit in case of a lightning strike.
Most HVAC units are on concrete slabs but double-check as this will help prevent your unit from sitting in water while on a solid foundation.

WHAT TO DO DURING THE HURRICANE
Once the hurricane arrives, turn off your HVAC unit.
If not, your compressor could be at risk of being damaged.
This could result in costly repairs later on down the road. If you choose to relocate, turn off the unit before you leave.
If you decide to stick out the storm at home, keep cool by using ceiling and floor fans.


AFTER THE STORM
Once the storm has passed, inspect your unit to make sure there’s no apparent damage.
If everything looks normal, it’s ok to turn your unit back on.
This will help fight mold and humidity from the storm.
While a visual inspection might suffice in most cases, it’s best to contact an HVAC professional like us to do a thorough inspection of your unit to ensure there wasn’t any substantial damage.


As we Texans know, don’t wait until the last minute to start preparing for a hurricane.
While the season officially begins in June, the worst storms usually surface anywhere around August to October.
Contact us at 409-925-8275, or schedule an appointment online to make sure your unit is hurricane-ready.
Visit our website for more information on our vast amount of services, including air conditioning, heating, duct cleaning, indoor air quality, maintenance, commercial HVAC, industrial services.


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5 Tips To Prepare Your Roof For Hurricane Season

6/27/2022

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A hurricane can be a scary time. But if you live in a hurricane-prone area, you are probably a pro! Whether you are a business owner or building owner, you want to protect your property during hurricane season.
In this article, we cover when hurricane season is, what kind of damage hurricanes cause and 5 tips for preparing your roof for hurricane season.

WHEN IS HURRICANE SEASON?
“The official hurricane season for the Atlantic Basin (the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico) is from 1 June to 30 November” according to the National Hurricane Center. “The peak of the season is from mid-August to late October.

WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE CAN HURRICANES CAUSE?


Wind DamageIt’s crazy how something you can’t even see can cause so much damage. Wind can cause a ton of havoc to your roof. Wind can cause damage in a number of ways:
  • Blow off roof or roof accessories
  • Throwing items onto your roof
  • Ripping mounted hardware out of your roof


Water DamageWhere there are strong winds, water and hail are likely to be close behind.
Where the wind can cause damage to your roof system, there are vulnerable areas for water to enter your building.
This water can cause issues with your building insulation, structure, and your property inside.

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR ROOF FOR HURRICANE SEASON


1. Schedule an Evaluation
If you are in a hurricane-prone area, yearly roof evaluations are a must. Having a knowledgeable contractor on your roof before hurricane season will ensure that there are no issues on your roof that a hurricane can make worse. Before hurricane season is the best time to have a contractor perform repairs and double check the integrity of your roof.
Your roofing contractor will look at the following areas of your roof:
  • Membrane – make sure there are no rips, punctures, holes or effects of aging.
  • Flashings – make sure all flashings are correctly attached and sealed.
  • Mounted Equipment – make sure the penetrations are properly sealed and that the equipment is securely attached.
  • Gutters/Downspouts – make sure all gutters, drains, and downspouts properly attached and flowing to the proper location.
You can even do one better with two yearly inspections: one before and one after hurricane season.


2. Trim Nearby Trees
Strong winds of a hurricane can destroy buildings and throw cars across town, do you trust those tree branches that hang over your building?
When you reach May or June, right before hurricane season, take a walk around your building and identify dead, broken or oversized trees and tree branches.
These can easily be blown off during a storm and land on your building.


3. Continue with Regular Maintenance
A maintenance program is a great way to be proactive with your roof system.
Having a roofing contractor keep up the maintenance of your roof is one of the best ways to ensure that your roof is ready to stand up to incoming hurricanes.
Regular maintenance can catch preliminary roof issues before they get worse, saving you money.


4. Clear Gutters and Drains 
We discussed above the damage that can come from water during and after a hurricane. Cleaning and making sure your gutters are clear is essential because your gutter system takes water from your roof system down to the ground.
If your gutters are clogged, the backed-up water will sit on your roof, and the probability of water entering your building will increase.




5. Keep Up to Date with Insurance and Warranties
When a hurricane passes through your area, it can be chaotic in the aftermath.
You can be a step ahead of your competitors and neighbors by having all of your documentation prepared and in a safe and easily accessible place.
Ideas of documents to keep:
  • Any applicable warranties
  • Insurance documentation
  • Any before photos
  • Contact information for contractors, insurance agents and other key contacts


When hurricane season comes, protecting people is the most important.
With a thought-out and well-implemented preparation plan, you don’t have to think twice about your roof during a hurricane.
Contact our team today to evaluate and help prepare your roof for the upcoming hurricane season.
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Hurricane Facts

6/27/2022

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There are six widely accepted conditions for hurricane development:

1. The first condition is that ocean waters must be above 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit).
Below this threshold temperature, hurricanes will not form or will weaken rapidly once they move over water below this threshold. Ocean temperatures in the tropical East Pacific and the tropical Atlantic routinely surpass this threshold.

2. The second ingredient is distance from the equator.
Without the spin of the earth and the resulting Corioles force, hurricanes would not form.
Since the Corioles force is at a maximum at the poles and a minimum at the equator, hurricanes can not form within 5 degrees latitude of the equator.
The Corioles force generates a counterclockwise spin to low pressure in the Northern Hemisphere and a clockwise spin to low pressure in the Southern Hemisphere.

3. The third ingredient is that of a saturated lapse rate gradient near the center of rotation of the storm.
A saturated lapse rate insures latent heat will be released at a maximum rate. Hurricanes are warm core storms. The heat hurricanes generate is from the condensation of water vapor as it convectively rises around the eye wall. The lapse rate must be unstable around the eyewall to insure rising parcels of air will continue to rise and condense water vapor.

4. The fourth and one of the most important ingredients is that of a low vertical wind shear, especially in the upper level of the atmosphere.
Wind shear is a change in wind speed with height. Strong upper level winds destroy the storms structure by displacing the warm temperatures above the eye and limiting the vertical accent of air parcels. Hurricanes will not form when the upper level winds are too strong.

5. The fifth ingredient is high relative humidity values from the surface to the mid levels of the atmosphere.
Dry air in the mid levels of the atmosphere impedes hurricane development in two ways. First, dry air causes evaporation of liquid water.
Since evaporation is a cooling process, it reduces the warm core structure of the hurricane and limits vertical development of convection.
Second, dry air in the mid levels can create what is known as a trade wind inversion.
This inversion is similar to sinking air in a high pressure system. The trade wind inversion produces a layer of warm temperatures and dryness in the mid levels of the atmosphere due to the sinking and adiabatic warming of the mid level air.
This inhibits deep convection and produces a stable lapse rate.

6. The sixth ingredient is that of a tropical wave.
Often hurricanes in the Atlantic begin as a thunderstorm complex that moves off the coast of Africa. It becomes what is known as a midtropospheric wave.
If this wave encounters favorable conditions such as stated in the first five ingredients, it will amplify and evolve into a tropical storm or hurricane.
Hurricanes in the East Pacific can develop by a midtropospheric wave or by what is known as a monsoonal trough.


Additional items...
Each year, an average of ten tropical storms develop over the Atlantic Ocean, Carribean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. Many of these remain over the ocean.
Six of these storms become hurricanes each year.
In an average 3-year period, roughly five hurricanes strike the United States coastline, killing approximately 50 to 100 people anywhere from Texas to Maine.
Of these, two are typically major hurricanes (winds greater than 110 mph).

Typical hurricanes are about 300 miles wide although they can vary considerably in size.

The eye at a hurricane's center is a relatively calm, clear area approximately 20-40 miles across.

The eyewall surrounding the eye is composed of dense clouds that contain the highest winds in the storm.

The storm's outer rainbands (often with hurricane or tropical storm-force winds) are made up of dense bands of thunderstorms ranging from a few miles to tens of miles wide and 50 to 300 miles long.

Hurricane-force winds can extend outward to about 25 miles in a small hurricane and to more than 150 miles for a large one.
Tropical storm-force winds can stretch out as far as 300 miles from center of a large hurricane.

Frequently, the right side of a hurricane is the most dangerous in terms of storm surge, winds, and tornadoes.

A hurricane's speed and path depend on complex ocean and atmospheric interactions, including the presence or absence of other weather patterns.
This complexity of the flow makes it very difficult to predict the speed and direction of a hurricane.

Do not focus on the eye or the track-hurricanes are immense systems that can move in complex patterns that are difficult to predict.
​Be prepared for changes in size, intensity, speed and direction.

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3 Simple Steps to Prepare Your Above-Ground Pool for a Storm

6/27/2022

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Along with the season of hot summer days, baseball, fireworks, and refreshing dips in your pool; come hurricanes and tropical storms.
According to the 
National Hurricane Center, the season for hurricanes in the northeast is June 1 to November 30 - right in the middle of pool season!
But don't worry - preparing your Namco above-ground pool for a storm is as easy as 1-2-3.
Just follow the simple steps below to protect your pool against possible damage caused by high winds and heavy rainfall.


1. Don’t Drain the Pool Water
One of the biggest myths about preparing your above-ground pool for a storm is that you should drain your pool water.
Oftentimes, pool owners are afraid that the high amounts of rain will cause their pool to overflow with water, flood their property, and damage equipment.
Against what may seem like a logical step - 
do not drain your pool! 
The weight of the pool water will help to hold the pool in place and eliminate the possibility of your pool detaching from the ground or loose debris scratching the floor or liner of your pool. Most often, pool water overflowing will not cause any harm to surrounding vegetation.
It’s better to ensure your pool will remain in place than the possibility of water overflowing.
If you still are afraid of flooding, you can safely reduce the pool water by 2-3 inches as an added precaution. 

2. Turn Off Power and Tie Down or Remove Equipment
The first step is to turn off the circuit breaker connected to all your pool equipment.
If high rainfall is expected, and you fear that your equipment may be affected by large amounts of water, you can move your pool components indoors to a dry location.
This is much easier to do with an above-ground pool versus an in-ground pool.
If you can’t bring the components indoors, you can still protect your pump, motor, and other electronics by covering them with a waterproof cover or plastic and tying the cover down tightly with ropes or tape.


3. Remove Pool Cover and Balance Your Chemicals
​
High winds can cause a range of potential issues for your pool. 
Your first instinct may be to cover your pool to keep leaves, dirt, and other debris out.
This is not advised since your pool cover can be easily blown off in high winds, and then ripped by a tree branch or damaged from objects falling on top of the cover.
Since your pool cover will be off, you most likely will have organic material flying into your pool which will need to be dealt with.
This organic matter contains contaminants from the atmosphere and provides food for bacteria to thrive off of.
Still, it’s far less expensive to balance your chemicals than to replace a damaged pool cover. Before a storm, you can counteract the effects that rainwater will have on the chemistry of your pool and help with post-storm cleanup by 
shocking your pool water.
 We recommend a chlorine-free shock treatment like our Biosafe Systems Green CleanMax.
​This organic, environmentally friendly algae control system is toxic-free and will soften water, add oxygen and bring debris to the surface.




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​Guidry Construction Group

6/16/2022

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​Guidry Construction Group
"We Do It Right!!"
Servicing Galveston County and South Houston for all your All remodeling,
 interior, exterior, decks, fences, additions etc... warranty on workmanship.
phillipg7@aol.com
409-225-1777
Over 30 years of experience
#galvestoncounty #smallbusiness 
#tacos #shoplocal #eatlocal #community
#friends #mycuprunnethover #blessed #getoutandvote  
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​Houston Hurricane & Security

6/16/2022

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​Houston Hurricane & Security
 we have one goal and that is to keep you and your family safe and protected. 
Whether you need storm protection or security for your home or business, Houston Hurricane is here to help.
Phone: 281-937-2909 | Fax: 832-201-8958
frank@houstonhurricane.com
5102 TX-3 Dickinson
 TX 77539
Mon-Fri: 8:00 am-5:00 pm | Sat-Sun: Closed
#galvestoncounty #smallbusiness 
#tacos #shoplocal #eatlocal #community
#friends #mycuprunnethover #blessed #getoutandvote  
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Grease Monkey Texas City

6/16/2022

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​Grease Monkey Texas City
3010 FM 1765
Texas City, TX 77590
Phone:
409 419 1200
#galvestoncounty #smallbusiness 
#tacos #shoplocal #eatlocal #community
#friends #mycuprunnethover #blessed #getoutandvote  
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Hurricane Season: 10 Myths Not to Believe

6/16/2022

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Terrifying storms that can level houses and rip large trees from the ground, hurricanes are among the most powerful forces of nature. The National Hurricane Center defines a hurricane as a rotating, organized system of thunderstorms and clouds that originates…

Myth #1: A Category 1 hurricane is no big deal.

Once a tropical storm reaches hurricane level, it is further categorized by wind speed using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
The scale has five levels, from Category 1 storms with sustained wind speeds of 74 to 95 miles per hour up to Category 5 hurricanes that really pack a wallop, with sustained winds of 157+ miles per hour that can level all wood-framed buildings in the storm's direct path, uproot or snap all the trees, and leave the area uninhabitable for weeks. 
Although higher category storms cause greater devastation, a Category 1 storm is nothing to sneeze at.
When subjected to winds of 74 miles per hour, even solidly built homes tend to sustain damage to roofs and siding.
​Damage to trees is common, and you can expect the power to be out for several days.

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Myth #2: High winds are the most dangerous aspect of a hurricane.
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While wind speeds of up to 157+ miles per hour are certainly dangerous, it’s not the wind that causes the most deaths in a tropical cyclone. It's actually flooding from heavy rainfall and storm surge that poses the biggest risk to life.
Storm surge is the flooding caused by high winds pushing ocean water inland. In the United States, this often devastating flooding is responsible for nearly half of hurricane fatalities, while flooding and accidents caused by heavy rainfall account for another 25 percent, according to National Geographic.

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Myth #3: Hurricanes affect only the coastline.

Although the most punishing hurricane damage happens along the coast, that doesn’t mean that those farther inland are out of danger.
According to 
Hurricanes: Science & Society, storm-surge flooding can reach inland well beyond 10 miles, and heavy hurricane rainfall often leads to inland river flooding far from the shoreline.
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Myth #4: Hurricanes are a problem only for states along the Gulf Coast.
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While Florida has the dubious honor of being the state with the greatest number of direct hurricane and tropical storm strikes—229 since 1851, according to Weather.com—it’s certainly not the only state with a hurricane problem.
North Carolina, in second place, has been struck by hurricanes 118 times, and 112 hurricanes have affected Texas.
But although hurricanes strike the Gulf Coast and Southeastern states most often, a total of 34 states have been hit at least once by a hurricane or tropical storm.
​Even inland Kansas and Illinois each have one hurricane strike in recorded weather history, as does California, which, despite its extensive coastline, isn’t normally hit by tropical cyclones. The waters of the northern Pacific Ocean are simply too cold to stir up a tropical storm.


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Myth #5: Hurricanes happen only in the fall.
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While the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is late August through September, the official hurricane season, according to AccuWeather, runs from June 1 until November 30.
Still, that doesn’t mean off-season hurricanes have never happened.
​A review of official weather records going back to 1851 reveals that there has been at least one named tropical storm or hurricane in every month of the year.
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Myth #6: Taping an X on your windows will keep them from breaking.
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It’s a common sight in movies and in real life, but in reality, taping a big X over your windows won’t prevent them from breaking during a hurricane, nor will it keep flying debris from blasting through the glass and into your home.
​According to the 
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), what does help is installing storm shutters over windows and glass doors. In a pinch, you can ward off damage by nailing temporary plywood boards over the glass.
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Myth #7: Opening the doors will stabilize air pressure inside the house.

Many people believe that opening doors or windows during a hurricane—a myth frequently applied to tornadoes as well—will stabilize the air pressure between the house’s interior and exterior, thus warding off damage.
​But in fact, NOAA cautions that not only will this do nothing to balance air pressure, but it will also leave your home even more susceptible to flying debris and flooding,
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Myth #8: It’s OK to wait and see how bad things get before evacuating.
One of the most dangerous hurricane myths is that it’s fine to remain at home after an evacuation is ordered, either because you want to protect your belongings or you don't think the storm will be that bad.
Not only does this put your life and your family’s lives at risk, it also puts first responders in danger should they need to rescue you during the storm. 
Pay close attention to weather reports if forecasts predict that a hurricane or tropical storm will hit your area.
Prepare your home for the storm, but if ordered to evacuate, don’t wait to head out. 
​Ready.gov, the website of the Department of Homeland Security's Ready campaign, provides detailed guidelines on what to do before, during, and after an emergency evacuation.

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Myth #9: Only windows and the roof are prone to hurricane damage.
Surprisingly, one of the main sources of damage during a hurricane is the garage door.
Because garage doors are large yet jointed, high winds can destabilize them, causing them to come off their tracks or collapse.
Once this happens, according to the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), winds from the garage can enter your home and destroy it.
In many hurricane-prone parts of the country, garage doors are required to be hurricane-proof.
​If yours isn’t up to snuff, you may be able to reinforce it with a garage door retrofit kit, which can be purchased at many home improvement centers in hurricane-prone areas.

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Myth #10: An upper-story apartment or room is safest during a hurricane.
If you figure you’ll ride out the storm in your second- or third-floor apartment, or if you simply head upstairs when a hurricane strikes, you may be in for a big surprise.
 
FEMA actually recommends sheltering on a lower level, assuming you have not been asked to evacuate.
That’s because the higher you are, the higher the wind speed, making broken windows and flying debris more of a danger than on the lower floors.
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The City of Texas City will be holding its annual hurricane town hall event.

6/11/2022

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​The City will be holding its annual hurricane town hall event.
June 23rd, 2022 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm.
Come by the Doyle Convention Center and enjoy some free hot dogs.
The first 50 people there will get a free flashlight. Everyone in attendance will have a chance to win a brand new generator!
We will be talking about this year’s hurricane season. We will have speakers from the National Weather Service, TXDOT, and Emergency Management. We want to make sure everyone is prepared and has a plan!
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Hours

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Telephone

409-916-2970
welovethebayarea@gmail.com