In this audio podcast we comment on the most common tips for hurricane preparedness, add a few of our own, and then interview a Handyguys Podcast fan and hurricane veteran.

Hurricane Earl from the ISS, click to enlarge

For complete preparedness tips please check out these resources:
www.nhc.noaa.gov
www.fema.gov
www.ready.gov
wikipedia.org

 

Here are some tips The Handyguys discuss:

• Check gutters and downspouts, make sure they are functional and well attached.
• Put things like lawn chairs, garbage cans, recycling bins, and anything that could blow away in a secure location. Look around at your neighbors property too. Help them get cleaned up. Their stuff could blow into your windows.
• Trim dead limbs from trees
• Ensure your sump-pump is operational, consider a water powered or battery backup sump pump
• Ensure you have a working flashlight and that you know where it is
• Make sure your vehicle(s) are filled with gas
• If you have a generator - make sure its in working condition, test it. Make sure you have a supply of fresh gas and that you know how to use it (and how you shouldn’t use it)
• If you have a chainsaw – make sure your blades are sharp and you have gas/oil, etc.
• Make sure you have a battery or hand crank operated radio so you can get storm updates in the event of a power failure
• Make sure your garage door is latched closed (helps keep water out and secures somewhat better against wind). Don’t close the garage door if you are running a generator in the garage
• Make sure you have supplies of medications, water, food, etc. (If you loose power frequently how long is it usually out?)
• Make sure your cell phones are fully charged.
• Identify the safest room in your house. It would be a room with no windows or exterior doors.
• Turn your refrigerator to its COLDEST setting a few hours before the storm.

These aren’t all the things you need to do. That will depend on the severity of the hit in your area. Make sure you keep safe and follow all emergency instructions and evacuations if necessary.
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You can also track hurricanes in real-time with the map below:

Water powered backup sump pumps

Never have water in your basement again due to a failed sump pump or a power outage. Water powered sump pumps do not require any electricity to operate.

Our listener had to remove new carpet from his finished basement due to heavy rains and a failed primary sump pump.

In this episode we address backup sump pumps, in particular water powered sump pumps. We were contacted by a listener via twitter and asked if we had recommendations for a backup pump. We knew of a few brands and types but our question was specifically about water powered pumps. After a little bit of research we found Base Products Corporation makes just such a system called the Basepump. They were gracious enough to send a pump to our listener so we could interview him about the install and the product. Thanks. The pump mark was sent can be purchased through Amazon by following this link Basepump

If you have a backup sump pump you wont need to pull out stinky carpets due to a flood caused by a failed primary pump.

In this show we discuss how the pump operates, how its installed, how to choose a pump, and most importantly why you would want to install something like this if you are finishing a basement. Listen to the podcast for all the details.

If you are considering finishing your basement water control is one of the most critical things to think about. Check out our other shows related to finishing your basement by clicking on the Basement Series button.