Local Storm Cleanup
When Mother Nature blows through with a hurricane or tropical storm, your first priorities will consist of the safety of your family and neighbors. Depending on the severity of the hurricane or tropical storm, you may be forced to move to safety until the storm passes. If you decide to weather the storm, you’ll need the right supplies before and after the storm.
Preparing your home will be another priority before the storm hits, to ensure that your property receives minimal damage. After the storm ends, surveying the damage and the mess will be another unpleasant situation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides information about emergency preparedness in response to hurricanes. It’s imperative that you proceed carefully as you clean up from a major storm.
Five pre / post-hurricane yard clean-up tips to ensure that you stay safe and put your property back to normal again.
- Survey the Damage
Take care as you survey the damage to your property. Check the outside of your home for structural damage. You may find missing shingles, damaged siding or even broken windows. Check for tree and shrubbery damage and damage to outdoor structures such as swing sets and sheds. Make notes about the damage you find and take pictures if possible.
- Proceed Cautiously
Although you may be impatient and eager to get on with clean up and repair work, you also decide to call a local landscape or lawn care service for their professional help. Whatever you decide is your call but make sure you take the time you need to assess the damage and determine how you can start the lawn cleanup. You may discover broken glass and nails amongst the debris, so wear gloves and protective clothing. Remember to keep children and pets away from the clean-up areas.
- Bagging Debris and limb removal
As you collect the debris caused by the hurricane, make separate piles to ensure the organized disposal of your debris. Make a pile of household garbage, construction debris and yard and limb debris. The household garbage will go out with regular garbage collection. The yard and limb debris will also require special collection by your local municipality or lawn care, landscape service. If you have hazardous waste, keep it separated from everything and call local authorities to find out how to dispose of these items.
- Check your Homeowners Policy
Your homeowner’s policy should cover a significant amount of damage and clean-up necessary after a hurricane or tropical storm. Check your policy to learn about coverage and filing requirements. As you begin to incur expenses connected with the hurricane and cleaning up, save all receipts for possible reimbursement. You may even be able to receive reimbursement for food and temporary lodging under your homeowner’s policy.
- Get Estimates
When your demolition and provide local storm cleanup tasks, you may need to hire experts to provide services. For example, downed trees and destroyed buildings will probably require the assistance of a lawn care or landscape crew. Try not to hire the first company you speak with, however. Get at least three or four estimates from various companies to enable you to hire the best company at the most attractive price. Make sure the chosen company is both licensed and insured.
Diamond Landscape Solutions LLC
President Austin Tucker
Email: diamond.landscapesolutions@gmail.com
Phone: 804-572-9040