As everyone on the East Coast knows at this point, Hurricane Earl is supposed to move up the coastline and hit towns at far north as Connecticut and Rhode Island. Because of the storm, the Red Cross put out a press release recently regarding disaster preparedness. In the event that Earl, followed by Tropical Storm Fiona, hits various coastal towns, those living in these areas need to create a disaster plan, according to the Red Cross. This should consist of three days worth of supplies, including tarps and medical kits. At this point, however, an individual or family should already have many of these on hand.
These various New England towns, in particular, are getting ready for the storm, as the last hurricane to hit the area occurred in the mid-1980s. Much like the press release from the Red Cross, this article discusses supplies, such as tarps, flying off shelves.
A homeowner, in this case, should have at least a few tarps at home. As we’ve mentioned in posts in the past, roofs, as well as windows and lights, can experience damage from storms, and blue poly tarps give temporary protection until a contractor can assess the damage.
Of course, even contractors aren’t entirely honest and, because of the increase in need for them after hurricanes, North Carolina recently put into effect its price gouging law. As this article from News and Record explains, the price gouging law prevents workers like contractors from upping prices and overcharging customers in a time of crisis.
Nevertheless, as all of these recent news stories indicate, preparation before and after the storm is essential. Develop a plan in case of disaster. Have the necessary supplies on hand. And, know how to tarp a roof. In addition to having multiple tarps on hand before the storm, make sure you have boards and nails for securing the material.
