4B
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL APRIL 11, 2018
Are you ready?
D ISASTER P REPAREDNESS
After a storm causes
damage: What to do
The 2017 hurricane season proved especially devastating for mil-
lions of people in both Texas and Florida. Upon making landfall in
Texas in late August, Hurricane Harvey became the fi rst Category
3 or higher hurricane in the United States since Hurricane Wilma
in 2005. In its wake, Harvey left damage that Texas governor Greg
Abbott estimated could cost as much as $180 billion to repair.
Just a couple of weeks after Hurricane Harvey touched down,
Hurricane Irma hit Florida as a Category 4 storm, knocking out
power to nearly seven million people.
Severe storms like hurricanes do not discriminate, and when such
storms fi nally dissipate, people from all walks of life are left to deal
with the often devastating consequences. Property damage is one
such consequence, and the following are some things people can
do in the aftermath of storms that caused damage to their property.
• Contact your insurance provider. Not all damage resulting from
storms will necessarily be covered by insurance policies, but it’s
still imperative that people contact their insurance companies as
soon as possible after their homes or vehicles have been damaged.
Agents can help policy holders learn if their policies cover the dam-
age done to their property and to what extent their coverage will
help them recover. Many people will likely be making similar calls,
so policy holders should try to be as patient as possible.
• Document the damage. People whose property has been dam-
aged should use their smartphones and cameras to document the
damage as extensively as possible. Take photos from various an-
gles before you begin cleaning up. Providers may require visual
evidence of the damage before they begin processing your claim,
so ask about those requirements when contacting your insurance
agent.
• Avoid downed power lines. In addition to protecting the invest-
ments you have made in your property and your possessions, it’s
important to remember to protect yourself. Avoid downed power
lines, reporting any to your local power company as soon as you
see them.
• Let the professionals do the work. It can be tempting for home-
owners to try to do some electrical work around their homes after
their homes have been damaged by storms. Electricians are likely
busy and might not be able to assess or repair damage for days, if
not weeks. But it’s still best to wait and allow professionals to do
the work. Experienced professionals recognize potentially harmful,
if not deadly, issues that may be lurking beneath the damage, so it’s
always best to leave the work to private electricians or local power
company work crews.
• Revisit insurance policies. After suffering damage to their
homes or vehicles, men and women may benefi t by revisiting their
coverage and increasing that coverage in anticipation of future di-
sasters.
Storm damage can turn individuals’ lives upside down. But re-
maining calm and working in harmony with insurance agencies and
power companies can help storm victims recover quickly.
THE DOS AND DON'TS OF
BACKYARD FIRE PITS AHEAD
OF THE SUMMER SEASON
Once a rarity, fi re pits have grown increasingly popular in re-
cent years, as more and more homeowners turn their homes into
private oases. Fire pits run the gamut from the very simple to
the more elaborate, and the fi re pits homeowners choose often
depend on the space they have available as well as their budgets.
But even homeowners without any space or budget constraints
should give careful consideration to which fi re pit they ultimate-
ly install, especially if they plan to make that installation them-
selves. The following are some dos and don’ts of fi re pits for those
homeowners about to add this relaxing and popular accessory to
their backyards.
DO confi rm you can legally build a fi re pit in your yard. Fire
pits have become so commonplace that homeowners may think
there are no regulations governing their construction. However,
it’s still best to confi rm with your local government planning or
zoning offi ces if you can build a fi re pit and if any restrictions
apply.
DON’T proceed with the project until you have been granted
offi cial approval. Assuming you have the go-ahead to build a fi re
pit is not the same thing as knowing you have been approved.
Starting early could result in fi nes if it turns out you aren’t al-
lowed to have a fi re pit. But you may also begin building a bigger
fi re pit than the local government allows, and that could be money
down the drain later. Wait until you get offi cial word before you
proceed with the project.
DO build on fl at ground. The fi re pit should be built on fl at
ground to reduce risk of accident and/or injury. A fi re pit built
on fl at ground also means everyone can enjoy it comfortably and
equally once the project is fi nished. If the ground around the pit is
not fl at, some people may be forced to sit crooked or lean forward
just to enjoy the pit.
DON’T build near fl ammable structures. Build the fi re pit far
enough away from existing structures, such as your home, ga-
rage or shed, so fl ickering fl ames do not catch some wind and
lead to disaster. Before building in a given spot, monitor the wind
patterns for a few days by sitting in a lawn chair at the spot you
ultimately want the fi re pit to be. If you notice the wind is blowing
toward your house, you will want to choose another area for the
pit so smoke from the fi re will not be blowing into your home
every night.
A fl ood guide as rain continues
The 2017 hurricane season proved especially devastating for millions of people in both Texas and Florida. Upon making landfall
in Texas in late August, Hurricane Harvey became the fi rst Category 3 or higher hurricane in the United States since Hurricane
Wilma in 2005. In its wake, Harvey left damage that Texas governor Greg Abbott estimated could cost as much as $180 billion to
repair.
Just a couple of weeks after Hurricane Harvey touched down, Hurricane Irma hit Florida as a Category 4 storm, knocking out
power to nearly seven million people.
Severe storms like hurricanes do not discriminate, and when such storms fi nally dissipate, people from all walks of life are left to
deal with the often devastating consequences. Property damage is one such consequence, and the following are some things people
can do in the aftermath of storms that caused damage to their property.
• Contact your insurance provider. Not all damage resulting from storms will necessarily be covered by insurance policies, but it’s
still imperative that people contact their insurance companies as soon as possible after their homes or vehicles have been damaged.
Agents can help policy holders learn if their policies cover the damage done to their property and to what extent their coverage
will help them recover. Many people will likely be making similar calls, so policy holders should try to be as patient as possible.
• Document the damage. People whose property has been damaged should use their smartphones and cameras to document the
damage as extensively as possible. Take photos from various angles before you begin cleaning up. Providers may require visual
evidence of the damage before they begin processing your claim, so ask about those requirements when contacting your insurance
agent.
• Avoid downed power lines. In addition to protecting the investments you have made in your property and your possessions, it’s
important to remember to protect yourself. Avoid downed power lines, reporting any to your local power company as soon as you
see them.
• Let the professionals do the work. It can be tempting for homeowners to try to do some electrical work around their homes
after their homes have been damaged by storms. Electricians are likely busy and might not be able to assess or repair damage for
days, if not weeks. But it’s still best to wait and allow professionals to do the work. Experienced professionals recognize potentially
harmful, if not deadly, issues that may be lurking beneath the damage, so it’s always best to leave the work to private electricians
or local power company work crews.
• Revisit insurance policies. After suffering damage to their homes or vehicles, men and women may benefi t by revisiting their
coverage and increasing that coverage in anticipation of future disasters.
Storm damage can turn individuals’ lives upside down. But remaining calm and working in harmony with insurance agencies and
power companies can help storm victims recover quickly.
DO choose the right size. The size of your fi re pit will depend on
the space you have available, but even if you have a vast swath of
space, keep in mind that professional contractors typically recom-
mend building a fi re pit no bigger than 44 inches wide. Anything
larger can be unsightly and may not appeal to prospective buyers
down the road. In addition, an especially large fi re pit may result in
potentially unruly fl ames that can present a fi re hazard.
DON’T go it alone if your DIY skills are suspect. Installing a fi re
pit is a relatively inexpensive DIY job, but that does not mean anyone
can do it. Ground needs to be excavated and the slope of the yard
must be measured so the fi re pit is safe and functional for years to
come. If your DIY skills are not up to snuff, hire a professional con-
tractor so your backyard oasis does not become a costly headache.
A fi re pit can turn a boring backyard into a relaxing retreat. But
homeowners must adhere to the dos and don’ts of fi re pits to ensure
their retreat is something they can enjoy for years to come.
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LANDSCAPE AND
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7919 N. River Road
541-942-4664
Make sure all the pieces are in place to render you and your family prepared in the event of a natural disaster.
• Listen to radio or television newscasts for the latest weather information, and follow all evacuation directions and suggestions.
• Keep a stock of non-perishable food items as well as bottled water on hand inside your home.
• Keep a 72 Hour Kit on hand inside your home that is easy to get to in the event of a disaster.
For more information and tips on disaster response and preparedness, contact your local emergency services center.
South Lane Fire & Rescue • 233 Harrison Ave, Cottage Grove 541-942-4493 • 55 South 1st Street, Creswell 541-895-2506
Twitter: @southlanefi re
Facebook: southlanecountyfi reandrescue