Having been a part of the Australian community for nearly 100 years, the O’Brien® team has seen our fair share of storms – and we’ve also helped thousands of Australian households prepare for storms (as well as clean-up after them). So, from our first-hand experience, we’ve put together a handy storm preparation checklist for you.

Being prepared for natural disasters such as storms isn’t just a precautionary measure. It’s a way to help keep your loved ones as well as your property safe, especially since Australian storms come in all types and severity.

Here are 8 things that you can do to prepare your home and your family in the event of a storm.

8 things you need to do around the home to be storm-ready

1. Stay informed and updated.

Forewarned is forearmed. So, whenever there’s a storm warning, keep a close eye on weather forecasts. If possible, get real-time alerts and warnings about approaching storms from reliable news sources so you’re always alert.

2. Create a family emergency plan.

Discuss evacuation routes, safe areas within your home, and contact information for nearby shelters or emergency services with your family.

This way, when the time comes, everyone will know what to do and can act quickly.

3. Build an emergency kit and stock up on your essentials.

You can also pack a storm emergency kit with all the essentials:

• non-perishable food
• clean water
• medications
• a first aid kit
• a torch
• batteries
• power banks

Ideally, an emergency kit should have enough supplies for at least a week.

4. Secure your surroundings.

While it’s still safe, clean up garden debris and secure loose objects in your yard so they don’t become projectiles during high winds. This includes outdoor furniture, trampolines or garden decorations. If flooding is a concern, you can use sandbags to prevent water from entering the vicinity of your home.

5. Inspect your doors and windows.

Look into all entry and exit points around your home such as windows and doors check for proper sealing. 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 right type of safety glass around your home as well.

Your local O’Brien Glass experts can work on the replacement and provide expert advice for ensuring the glass around your home is safe for extreme weather.

6. Check your roof and gutters.

Check your roof regularly for loose or missing tiles and repair roof damage as soon as you notice it. Cleaning out gutters and downpipes will also ensure proper drainage in case of heavy rainfall. This can help you avoid or minimise potential water leaks and water damage during a storm.

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

7. Examine potential electric hazards.

Faulty power lines, lightning and water are a concerning combination that could pose risks to your home and your family. So, it helps to have a safety switch installed and maintained on your switchboard. A residual-current circuit breaker with over-current protection (RCBO) also guards against accidental electrocution by monitoring the current travelling to and from an electrical load.

If you need help with the installation of switchboard and safety switches, your local O'Brien Electrical experts can assist.

8. Review your insurance coverage.

Take the time to talk to your insurance provider and make sure your coverage adequately protects against storm and flood damage, especially if you live in a flood-prone area. Knowing that you have the right coverage gives you one less thing to worry about when the storm hits.

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.

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 – just reach out to your local O’Brien^® team.

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: 8 Things To Do To Prepare For A Storm appeared first on O'Brien.

If your property is not properly sealed and maintained, rain can get into the home potentially leading to mold and other problems. To help avoid this, check for loose flashings or deteriorated weather seals on the externals of the home, to prevent inconspicuous water entering and causing damage. 

Our O'Brien Plumbers recommend inspecting these areas annually to check signs of damage or decay. We recommend you engage a local plumbing expert to plug these seals for long lasting effects.

2.Gutter and Drainage System Overflow

Gutters help to protect the foundation and walls of your home because they divert water away from your home and its foundation. Gutters also help capture much needed rain water – if your rainwater tank is connected to your toilets, hose taps or washing machine, keeping your downpipes and gutters clean and having your pumps checked by a licensed plumber will ensure you don’t miss out on capturing as much rain water as possible.

Our O'Brien Plumbers recommend consulting a licensed, experienced professional.This may help to avoid more problems caused by water leaking into the building’s foundation and roof cavities.

3. Damage to Roof

Hail and rain can cause roof damage. Roof damage may appear as dents in metal and roof tiles or cracks on your roof tiles due to hail. If you notice any potential damage, get in touch with a licensed professional.

4.Clogging of household plumbing

During rainy weather household plumbing can become clogged or damaged. Blocked drains can lead to plumbing backflow and can cause problems in the home if not dealt with quickly. A blocked drain will usually be apparent, however, a number of signs to look out for include;

• An unusual smell coming from pipes or drainage
• Puddles or build up of water where it is slow to drain away or doesn’t drain at all
• A gurgling sound emerging from drains and pipes

To help prevent this from happening our O'Brien Plumbers specialise in drain cleaning with specific equipment that may be needed to make them operational again.

O'Brien Plumbers offer a range of services to help protect your home including:

• Hand augers and drain cleaning rods.
• Electric eels.
• High pressure water jetters.
• CCTV inspection of drains.
• Excavation and repair/replacement.
  

Our O'Brien Plumbers come highly experienced in troubleshooting these problems for you.

If you notice plumbing damage or require a licensed plumber to inspect your property contact the experts at O'Brien Electrical & Plumbing. 

The post How You Can Help Prepare Your Home For Adverse Weather Conditions appeared first on O'Brien.