Dear Heather,

I own my own home. What is your advice about hurricanes? They seem to be out there left, right and centre — how can I minimise damage? What do I do before, during and after the storm in order to make sure my property is safe?

Worried

Dear Worried,

Whether we get hit full-on by a tropical storm or hurricane or just get the remnants, dragging rough seas and a lot of rain with them, it is always wise to be prepared. This hurricane season does seem to be worse than last year, getting off as it did to a lively start and still going even though we are now into October.

Be sure well ahead of hurricane season that your home is insured for storms. In Bermuda, typically, property insurance covers storms. However, there is the option not to include it in your policy. Storms are one of the most common reasons for property damage so be sure your policy has storm insurance included. There are many sources of advice for storm preparation and safety during the worst moments, but what do you do afterwards?

• Be sure that you have an adequate supply of drinking water available, before the storm.

• Keep on top of local information with a battery radio.

• Help injured or trapped persons, and provide first aid wherever it is appropriate. Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Call for help if you have a landline; mobile phone service is likely to be down.

• Avoid loose or dangling power lines and, if they have not already been reported, inform the power company, police or fire department.

• Open windows and doors to ventilate and dry your home. It is getting better, but with most of our power lines above ground it can take several days for power to be restored.

• If power is lost, turn off major appliances to reduce power “surge” when electricity is restored. In fact, before the storm, unplug appliances or anything you are not using.

• Check refrigerated foods for spoilage. This is a no-brainer if the power has been out for days. Try not to panic buy before the storm, and use up all the items that you already have in your refrigerator and cupboards.

• Take pictures of the damage, both to the house and its contents (if appropriate) for insurance claims.

• In order not to block landlines, use the telephone only for emergency calls.

• Inspect your roof, but please wait until it is dry (or it will be slippery) and have a responsible person assisting you with the ladder, etc. You are looking for cracks that may have appeared due to the vibration caused by high winds, and broken or damaged roof slate. Make a note, so you know where to look when it comes time to do repairs, be aware that these cracks can occur beneath the paintwork and can take up to three months to be noticeable.

• Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear blowing or a hissing noise, open a window and quickly turn off the outside main valve. If you can, call the gas company from a neighbour’s home. Your gas stove should still work, however the pilot light will not, so have a BBQ lighter at the ready.

• A lot of people own gasoline-powered generators to help them during long outages. Please run your generator outside as they give off poisonous fumes. And as they can be very noisy, be thoughtful about your neighbours. Maybe offer them the chance to take a hot shower, or heat up some food.

• Not many people are evacuated in Bermuda as we are generally all “storm savvy”, but if you have to travel afterwards the roads are likely to be treacherous and full of fallen trees or debris (as after Faye and Gonzalo in 2014). So do not go anywhere unless you absolutely have to. If you can, walk there; even better, if you are physically fit and able, offer to assist with clearing the roads or take refreshments to those who are working.

• For my avid gardeners: With regards to your treasured plants and roses, take a few cuttings for rooting if you have a favourite or unusual species in case they are damaged beyond repair. Plants will look rather storm-swept and “burnt” due to the salt content in the rain and wind. As soon as possible hose them off with fresh water and cut off any injured stems or branches. Bermuda plants are hardy, chances are they will soon look as good as new.

Sometimes the responsibility of a large property is overwhelming, particularly if you are getting up in age or are on your own.

If this is the case, perhaps it is time to think about buying somewhere smaller and more manageable. Once the season has settled down, give me a call to see what might be available, there are lots of options.

Heather Chilvers is among Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty’s leading sales representatives. She has been working in real estate for 27 years. If you have a question for Heather, please contact her at hchilvers@brcl.bm or 332-1793. All questions will be treated in confidence. Read this article on Facebook: Ask Heather Real Estate