Whether it’s a hailstorm, a flash flood or a thunderstorm, storms can be unpredictable, causing potential harm to people and damage to homes and businesses. They can also disrupt power, communication systems and local amenities like running water.

That’s why it’s important to be prepared to help keep yourself and your family safe while helping to minimise damage to your property.

O'Brien^® has been part of the Australian community for almost 100 years, so our teams have seen firsthand the impact of storms on our vast country.

So we’ve put together a useful checklist to help you be prepared in advance in case a storm hits.

Here are 10 things you can do around your home before a severe weather event. These tips can help you and your family be better equipped to handle any challenges that may arise.

10 things to do around your home to be storm-ready

1. Check your roof regularly for loose or missing tiles and repair any roof damage as soon as you notice it. This can help you avoid or minimise potential water leaks in heavy rain conditions.
2. Check and clean out your gutters and downpipes to ensure there is proper drainage during a storm. This will prevent overflowing, damage to guttering and backwash that can pool water in places that could cause lingering moisture and water damage.

For help with the cleaning and repair of your gutters, or maintaining your roof, your local O'Brien Plumbing experts can assist.

3. Clean up garden debris like branches and secure any loose objects in your yard, such as outdoor furniture, trampolines, or garden decorations, so they don’t become projectiles in high winds.
4. Check your windows and doors for proper sealing and get any previously broken panes of glass repaired so that they’re in good working order. It is worth checking to make sure you have the correct type of safety glass around your home as well.

Your local O'Brien Glass^® experts can are on hand for replacement and advice for glass around your home.

5. Examine your home for any potential electrical hazards that could occur. Ensuring you have a safety switch installed and maintained on your switchboard and installing a residual-current circuit breaker with over-current protection (RCBO) that guards against accidental electrocution by monitoring the current travelling to and from an electrical load.

Your local O'Brien Electrical experts can perform thorough checks and installations of switchboard & safety switches.

6. Check if your home and contents insurance is up to date and know what you are covered for if it comes to claims with a flood or storm. Take the time to talk to your insurance provider to understand what additional cover may be available so you can consider additional options if you think you need it.
7. Stock up on non-perishable food, water, and other supplies in case you are without power or are isolated for more than a few days. We’ve recently seen how many Australian towns have been affected by prolonged flood waters – so it’s best to be prepared.
8. Charge your mobile phone, power banks and other electronic devices in case of a power outage, so you can contact loved ones or your local O'Brien expert (to glass, plumbing or electrical help)
9. Have an evacuation plan in place beforehand and talk through it with your family and friends, so if the time comes you know what to do and can act quickly.
10. Have an emergency kit ready, just in case, with essential items such as a torch, first aid kit, and batteries.

Stay safe and dry with help from O'Brien^®

It’s always a smart idea to be prepared in advance for storms, and hopefully this checklist is a good starting point for you.

Keep a close eye and ear on the weather and predicted forecast to help your household be as prepared as can be should a storm hit. Always remember, if you need any repairs around the home before or after a weather event – whether it be for electrical or plumbing work or glass repairs, whether it be for electrical or plumbing work or glass repairs – contact your local O'Brien^® team today.

For more information about our services, call us on 1800 719 738 or send us a message to speak with one of our friendly staff.  We’re here to keep you safe and dry.

The post Storm Preparation Checklist For Your Home appeared first on O'Brien.

Twice in the space of thirty days, towns such as Lismore in Northern NSW saw torrential rain that caused major flooding and affected the lives of every member of their community.

The floods reportedly forced over 27,000 people in Lismore to evacuate their property and left more than 6,000 homes without power.

This natural disaster affected thousands of households, but it also had a severe impact on the region’s businesses – both large and small

Michael Jackson, Branch Manager of O'Brien^® AutoGlass in Lismore, recently told us about his team’s experience during this trying time, and how they were able to get back on their feet and come to their community’s aid when they needed it most.

Here’s the story.

An all too familiar situation for Lismore

As a large regional city set on the banks of Wilsons River, Lismore is no stranger to seasonal flooding. Unfortunately, we’ve seen over the years that this flooding can become quite major with the most recent event in February 2022. Amidst rising water levels and relentless rainfall, the O'Brien^® Lismore branch took a major hit that heavily affected its ability to operate and service their community.

“It was much worse than we expected,” Michael told us. “The reports said it would be about 11 metres, which was already alarming, but then it got to 14, which is the biggest one we’ve had so far.”

The impact on the O'Brien^® AutoGlass Lismore team

When the flood warning came through, the team at O'Brien^® Lismore felt the immediate effect.

While some team members were stranded outside the CBD, unable to get through floodwaters on their way to work, others watched helplessly as water levels began to rise and surround the O'Brien^® branch.

Michael and his team worked tirelessly to move everything they could to the roof of the office building within the warehouse – tools, documents and other valuables – hoping that these would be spared.

“On Friday, everyone was still in good spirits,” Michael said, “only to realise by Monday that we had lost everything.”

The resulting flood was so severe that only the O'Brien^® sign out the front – the tallest part of the building – was visible when the water levels peaked.

Footage supplied courtesy of Seven Network. All rights reserved. ©

Despite the many challenges, however, this situation brought out the best in the O'Brien^® team, as it did for the entire Lismore community.

Michael said, “Our team realised that with the extensive damage caused by these floodwaters, there would no doubt be hundreds of cars needing repairs over the coming weeks and months ahead, and we needed to make sure our service was available as soon as possible.”

The O'Brien^® team got to work cleaning up the mammoth task of cleaning up the branch. “The clean-up was a community effort, where people were grabbing their equipment and helping us out, as we were doing the same to nearby businesses,” Michael said, “there was a great comradery working together.”

Moving forward together

When the floods hit, the O'Brien^® Lismore team was already in the process of relocating from Ballina Road to a new location on Snow Street in South Lismore. Fortunately, the new location was not underwater so the focus shifted to getting their operations up and running there as quickly as possible.

O'Brien^® Lismore has since been running a mobile service out of their new headquarters for customers who need urgent windscreen repairs and replacements.

“The team was doing additional hours to cater to flood-affected clients immediately,” Michael told us, “especially to help those living in their cars who needed urgent auto glazing assistance. We are checking in with customers when they book in for a repair and checking if they need extra help ahead of their appointment, so we can do what we can to assist. There are many repairs to be done to cars of those volunteers still helping out with relief & rebuilding efforts – so anything we can do to help them out – we will.”

While the floods have caused a slight delay to the completion of the new branch, the new home of O'Brien^® in Lismore is up and running now, with only a handful of finishing touches to get done.

Michael Jackson (Branch Manager) and Damian Winterbon (Leading Hand) – outside their new branch in Snow Street.

A strong team for a strong community

We are proud of the effort that our O'Brien^® team in Lismore has done to continue to provide much-needed services to their customers and help get them back on the road as quickly as possible.

This is a true testament to the fact that O'Brien^® is committed to helping all those affected by natural disasters or adverse weather conditions around the country, whenever they need it, especially when it comes to helping keep homes and vehicles safe.

We would like to wish everyone in Lismore and all parts of Australia who have been affected by the devastating floods and rain over the past couple of months a safe and speedy recovery.

Wherever you are in Australia, O'Brien^® is here to help

With a nationwide network of branches reaching 99% of populated Australia, an O'Brien^® AutoGlass expert is never far away.

Whether you need a simple chip repair or a complete windscreen replacement, we’re here to help you – no matter the situation.

Click here to find your nearest O'Brien^® AutoGlass branch.

For more information about our services, call us on 1800 059 829 or send us a message to speak with one of our friendly staff.

The post O’Brien Lismore Team In Focus: Resilience During The Floods appeared first on O'Brien.

Fortunately, severe storms typically come with a warning, giving us time to plan ahead so we can protect our family, our homes and our vehicles.

To help you stay proactive, we’ve put together a list of quick tips you can use to ensure you’re prepared for any dangerous storms that may come your way.

7 ways to protect your home and vehicle from an oncoming storm

Of course, your top priority during a storm is always the safety of yourself and your family. However, it’s still important to look after your home and vehicles as much as possible as well, as severe weather has the potential to lead to costly destruction of property.

So here are some things you can do to help protect your vehicle and home:

1. Stay up to date with the latest forecast.

While we can see them coming on the radar, storms are still unpredictable. It’s best to stay updated to help maximise your preparation time. The weather forecast will keep you posted on a storm’s movement and strength, and news reports will also let you know about any flood-prone roads or other areas to avoid, as well as if it’s necessary to evacuate.

Remember: keeping updated with the latest information can help save lives in hazardous weather conditions.

2. Store or secure any outdoor items or equipment that could become a projectile.

Store all gardening tools, outdoor furniture, sports equipment, pot plants and so on, indoors to ensure that powerful winds don’t turn these otherwise harmless objects into dangerous flying projectiles that could cause considerable damage to glass windows, doors and car windscreens.

3. Trim or cut down hazardous trees and branches around your home.

During a severe storm, tree branches can snap, and entire trees can become uprooted. Regular trimming could help to limit falling branches so they don’t end up potentially causing damage to your home, vehicles, or any members of your family.

4. Check around your home for any needed repairs.

The best way to protect your home and everyone inside is to ensure that all parts of it are in good condition. Check for cracks, loose panels, broken windows, damaged roof tiles, etc. It’s also a good idea to clean your gutters regularly and check for leaks anywhere that water might get in.

At O'Brien^®, we have a team of local experts who can provide glazing, electrical, plumbing and roofing services to address any issues your home may have before the next big storm. Visit our location pages to see what O'Brien^® services are in your area.

5. Park your car in a safe spot.

If you don’t have a garage, look for areas with temporary covered parking or make sure that wherever you park, your vehicle won’t get caught in the event of a flood such as a parking place on a road that is up a hill

As an added measure, you can also cover your windscreen with thick blankets, in an effort to help protect your car in a pinch.

6. Remove any non-essential items and secure loose objects around your vehicle.

Detach any magnetic signs, removable aftermarket add-ons such as flags and other exterior car accessories when preparing for a storm. This is to ensure these items don’t become fast-moving objects in strong winds.

7. Don’t forget your routine car maintenance.

In the event of a severe storm, you may need to evacuate, meaning you’ll need to ensure that your car is ready to get you and your family to safety.

Regularly check your tyres, your oil and your battery, as well as your windscreen for chips and cracks. When you know there’s a storm coming, make sure your fuel tank is full and ready to go.

If you do need windscreen repairs, you can rely on your local experts at O'Brien^® to repair or replace your broken glass and get you back on the road fast.

While severe storms can cause stress and discomfort, a bit of forward planning and preparation can help you to protect your home, your vehicles, and most importantly – the lives of you and your loved ones.

Take your storm safety to the next level with O'Brien^®

At O'Brien^®, we are always ready to deliver vehicle glass, glazing, electrical and plumbing services to your home or business.

Contact us today and we can help you prepare and protect your home and vehicle against severe weather and storms this summer.

For more information about our services, call us on 1800 059 829 , or send us a message to speak with one of our friendly staff.

The post 7 Safety Tips to Help Protect Your Home and Vehicle from an Approaching Storm appeared first on O'Brien.

• Kitchen

The sink and/or dishwasher will no doubt be working overtime if you’re hosting this year’s holiday festivities. Check your drains and clear clogs like food and grease buildup, so you can rest easy knowing that your kitchen plumbing is capable of functioning all day without any issues.

• Bathroom

Will you have guests staying at your house throughout the holiday break? If so, prepare your bathroom plumbing. Toilets and shower drains are most prone to clogging, especially when you have a lot of people using it. Saying that bathroom issues are embarrassing is an understatement. Good thing our expert plumbers can help you avoid this nightmare! Get in touch with your local O'Brien Plumber to get your bathroom holiday-ready.

• Roofing and Guttering

If you are spending the holidays out on vacation, don’t forget to maintain your roof and gutters before you leave. Summer storms bring a fair share of rain, so you might want to have your gutters cleaned and free from debris like leaves. This will help you avoid any unwanted rain-brought mess that might surprise you when you get back from your well-deserved trip.

• Pipes and Drains

Do you have a minor plumbing issue that you have been putting off for the past few months – maybe a leaking tap? Or is it taking a long time for water to go down your drains? Holidays are the right time to have it checked. You never know, what seems to be a minor problem right now may only be the tip of the iceberg. And the holidays are the worst time for a breakdown to occur.

How to get your home plumbing system inspected

Get your home inspected by a local qualified plumber to make sure your plumbing system is working efficiently. Professional plumbers at O'Brien can schedule and perform reliable maintenance and inspection of your home plumbing system. Our experts will identify potential problems and provide a solution to prevent inconvenient breakdowns. Simply book online or click here to find your closest expert!

Emergency Plumbing Services

O'Brien Plumbing is always here for you in the event of a plumbing breakdown or emergency. Call your local O'Brien Plumber or find a branch near you!

Licences

O'Brien Group Services Pty Ltd | ACN 132 161 285 | NSW Lic. No 333269C | QLD Lic. No 15117259 (issued under the Queensland Building
and Construction Commission Act 1991) | ACT Lic. No. 201935 | SA Lic. No. PGE 291631 | NT Lic. No. C 9336 | TAS Lic. No. 15606548

The post Home Plumbing: Preparing for the holidays appeared first on O'Brien.

Quite clearly, hail can cause severe damage to your vehicle and can crack your windscreen in more places than one.
Protect your windscreen from severe weather such as a hail storm with the below tips:

• Get undercover parking or look for a safe shelter
• Cover your windscreen with some blankets, a tarpaulin or even the floor mats from your car
• Plan ahead – if you know a storm is forecast, find an alternate form of transport or try and delay your trip
• Secure any loose objects from around the vehicle to avoid damage if blown around

Storms can hit at any time of the day or night and we understand that you can’t always be prepared and keep your vehicle safe from damage. At O'Brien®, our friendly advisors are available 24/7 and our expert technicians are located all over Australia so we’re always here when you need us.”

The post How hail can damage a windscreen appeared first on O'Brien.