Wednesday, April 03, 2019

By John Voket While spring can be full of balmy breezes and April showers, it can also be a time of highly unsettled weather that can turn damaging and even dangerous - sometimes in a matter of just a few hours.

So we hit up Gregory Geaski, a New England region SERVPRO response professional who knows from experience that property owners need to be prepared for potentially severe spring weather patterns in the coming weeks and months.

Geaski has handled fire and water cleanup, restoration services, and mold remediation. He understands spring weather can be unpredictable, with wide temperature swings and extreme, sometimes rapid weather changes.
Sadly, spring thunderstorms along with lightning, tornadoes and flooding are already wreaking havoc on communities across the nation.

The National Weather Service's National Seasonal Safety Campaign seeks to inform the public about weather hazards between March 1 and June 1, encompassing Hurricane Preparedness Week May 5-11.
For each season and related threats, the NWS provides no-fee Wireless Emergency Alerts to a user’s WEA-capable phone when severe weather is expected or possible at or near the phone’s location.

As a disaster remediation specialist, Geaski and all his SERVPRO colleagues know advance planning and preparation can not only help you survive an unexpected event, but also recover from it once the threat has passed.

He suggests following the advice of the experts:

- Prepare an emergency kit that includes an emergency evacuation or shelter plan,

- Have a first-aid kit available at all times, including in the car

- Keep a three-to-five day supply of water and food, personal hygiene items, medications, blankets and pet supplies,

- If you have pets, be sure to include important contact, insurance, utility and medical information stored in a reliable and accessible place.

Having these critical items available to grab and go in both your home and car allows you to quickly move to safety and then take immediate steps toward recovery once the emergency is over, Geaski adds.
 

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