Hurricane Helene came through the southeast one year ago and wreaked havoc that is still being restored today. Hurricane Helene provided a sobering set of lessons for homeowners, emphasizing the need to be self-sufficient for an extended period and to re-evaluate financial preparedness, especially in areas not traditionally considered high-risk. Here are the key takeaways for home preparedness.
The storm demonstrated that waiting for outside help (first responders, aid, supply trucks) is not a viable initial strategy, especially with the widespread and simultaneous failure of critical infrastructure. You need to prepare your home to sustain everyone living there until it is reasonable for help to arrive. This could be several days, and it was even weeks for some communities hit by Hurricane Helene. Be prepared to live without power, running water, and reliable communication for much longer than the traditional 72 hours - think seven to twenty-one days.
The loss of municipal water systems (not just contaminated, but completely non-functional) was a major issue. Homeowners need to have significant water stores for drinking, cooking, and sanitation. A great preparation for sanitation is to fill all the bathtubs and sinks before the storm. While it may not be potable water, it can be used for washing hands and dishes and can be used for washcloth baths until a clean supply of water can be restored. This water can also be used for refilling toilet tanks as needed if your sewage system is still able to function. If the toilet does not flush easily, do not keep trying to force it down. An overloaded sewage system may come back to haunt you when you need it the least!
A generator is critical, but the lack of fuel in the storm's aftermath was an equally major problem. Store extra fuel for your generator and consider a dual fuel (gas/propane) generator to diversify your energy source. Since you will not know how long your home may be without power, use the generator only for critical functions such as powering the refrigerator. Lighting can be managed by battery powered lights, or go old-school by going to bed when it gets dark, keeping power usage to a minimum. If you have any cellular service, keeping your phones charged is critical. They are a way to communicate with the outside world until you can leave your home safely. Do not use them to play games or listen to music. Phone usage should be kept to communication only to conserve battery life. Use a battery powered radio to get updates from authorities on conditions in your area. If possible, use a NOAA-recommended emergency weather radio to stay up to date on weather conditions, evacuation notifications and timelines for severe storms.
With widespread power loss, banks, ATMs, and credit/debit systems failed. Store a substantial amount of cash at home, as it becomes the only viable form of commerce. Of course, for safety reasons, do not make that common knowledge and store it in a safe out of the way place.
The inability to rely on grocery stores for days or even weeks required changes to food planning. If you know a severe storm is coming, cook and freeze meals that will be easy to defrost and prepare for consumption. Also, cook and freeze any perishable items already in your refrigerator so they can be thawed and used over a longer period of time than raw food waiting to be cooked. This prevents waste and provides ready food that can be eaten cold if a generator fails or runs out of fuel. With the loss of water systems, food that requires water for rehydration, like freeze-dried camping meals, becomes nearly worthless. Stock non-perishable food that can be eaten without cooking or water such as canned goods and emergency bars. Have a reliable camp stove or outdoor grill with extra fuel, in order to cook when the power is out. While those frozen meals may be safe to eat cold, they probably taste better warm. Before cooking with anything from the freezer, use any raw foods still in the refrigerator or your pantry because those will expire first. Using them before they can go bad will extend the food supply in the home in case you need to wait longer than expected for access to an outside food source.
The financial fallout was often more devastating than the physical damage, particularly in inland communities. In one of the most significant lessons, many people who were heavily impacted lived outside of FEMA's high-risk flood zones and did not have flood insurance. This is normal since flooding is not common for every home, but homeowners need to know that standard homeowner's insurance does not cover flooding. Given the possibility of extreme rainfall events, every homeowner should consider purchasing flood insurance, regardless of whether their mortgage requires it. We are getting more calls each year from customers who have had their ground level or basement flood for the first time. FEMA does have a map that indicates flood zones for every area, so you can see whether your home is in a potential flood zone. Since weather patterns are changing, these maps are changing too, so check again if you have not looked at your area recently. Even if you do not live in a flood zone, if you live at the bottom of a hill that is taller than your home, live on a very flat plain or near a river or creek that may overflow its banks, flood insurance may be a cheaper option than having a flood event without protection. It is worth a conversation with your insurance agent to know what the cost may be so you can make an educated decision. Before the storm, take a video or photos of your home's contents and condition for insurance claims. Keep copies of vital documents including passports, insurance policies, and medical records in a waterproof "Go Bag" or secure digital copies in the cloud, in case of a mandatory evacuation.
Perhaps the most important lesson learned was a psychological one. Don't assume you are safe because you live inland or "it has never flooded here." Extreme storms are always possible, and you should plan for damage far worse than your community has historically experienced. Be ready to leave quickly if local authorities issue an evacuation order, especially if you are in a low-lying or flood-prone area. Losing possessions is better than losing a life.
Once the floodwaters recede, make sure everyone is safe then call ServiceMaster of Gwinnett or ServiceMaster 5 Points for your water damage mitigation. Prompt extraction and drying will minimize the amount of damage to your home. We will help you get your property dried out safely and work with your insurance company, leaving you free to take care of yourself and your family.
