Posted by Billy Davis
A snowstorm can bury your car making it difficult to access and reck havoc on your home. Below are a few tips for how to dig out quickly, clean up effectively, and stay safe and warm, even if you happened to lose power.
Here are some helpful tips whether you got two inches or two feet of snow.
1. Get a head start on clearing snow
If it’s warm enough and safe to go outside, you may want to clear the snow around your home and vehicles right away. Fresh snow is lighter and easier to shovel or snow-blow than snow that’s had time to settle and get packed down.
2. Look for damage to trees
Inspect the trees in your yard to make sure heavy snow hasn’t broken or cracked limbs that could fall and harm your home or someone walking by.
If you find trees that are damaged, contact a professional to trim them properly.
3. Check Your Detectors
Check your smoke, monoxide and carbon detectors. This is especially important if you don’t have power and need to heat your home using a fireplace, space heater, or generator. Check the batteries in the detectors and change them if they’re not working well.
4. Look for Roof Damage
Safely check your roof. Walk around your house to get a look at your roof. Heavy snowfall and winds during blizzards can damage roofs, causing leaks and even collapses. Avoid getting up on your roof in icy or slick conditions. It’s safer to call the professionals to inspect and/or fix the issue.
5. Don’t forget about pets
Some pets may be restless to get back outside after needing to stay inside due to storming conditions. Once it’s safe for them to go outside watch out for any potential hazards that could cause harm, such as icicles, downed power lines, or ice patches. Also be sure to clean their paws after coming inside so that they don’t lick any snow-melting salt and potentially get sick.
6. Inspect the Plumbing
Look for broken pipes and other plumbing issues. Severe cold weather wreaks havoc on plumbing and can lead to burst or cracked pipes. Check interior areas as you run water to ensure nothing is leaking. When it’s safe to do so, go outside and uncover external pipes to do the same. If you discover any issues, turn off your water and contact a professional to help you address the problem.
7. Avoid driving right away
If possible, give road crews time to clear the roads before you go out. If you need to go out, try to stick to roads that are already plowed, sanded, or salted, and watch for black ice.
Call Your Insurance Company
As soon as you know there may be damage to your home or vehicle, call your Billy Davis Insurance agent to report the claim and find out how to proceed. You’re probably not the only one with issues, so getting in line as soon as possible is a good idea.
BE READY IN ANY WEATHER
At Billy Davis Insurance Group, we’re always here for you – no matter what mother nature has coming your way. This is just one of the benefits of having a local agent on your side. Talk to us to learn more about your auto insurance and home insurance to make sure you are properly covered.
