Going through a hurricane or severe storm is a frightening experience. Not only are there concerns about personal safety, but there are also anxieties about the possibility of major property damage. If you’re a pool owner, it’s important to have a storm preparation plan in mind if you live in an area that experiences severe storms and hurricanes.
In the first article in our series, we discussed the reasons why you should turn off your pool’s electrical equipment and keep water in the swimming pool. We mentioned other practical tips like getting a generator and removing or securing your pool pump’s motor. In this article, we’ll share some tip for getting the area around your pool prepared before the storm hits.
Patio Furniture Should Be Moved to a Secure Location
If you have outdoor tables, chairs, benches, potted plants, toys, or equipment for yard work pool care, don’t hesitate to move them to a safe location. That could be either inside your house or into a secure outbuilding on your property such as a sturdy garage or shed. If some of the objects are too big or heavy for you to move, you could consider chaining them to a solid object that’s unlikely to be moved during the storm. It’s preferable to move everything inside, but sometimes it’s just not feasible. Just do the best you can to get everything in a secure spot where it won’t be as easy to end up getting damaged, hitting something else, or getting carried away.
One option for patio furniture that’s waterproof is to actually toss it into your pool. Hotels sometimes use this strategy to protect their chaise lounge pool deck chairs. Again, you’d be better off to bring it inside, but this may be an option if you don’t have enough room or you have a limited amount of time to work with before an evacuation. The logic is that if the furniture is submerged in water it will be less likely susceptible to getting picked up by heavy wind gusts.
Keep Trees and Shrubs Neatly Trimmed
There are more than just aesthetic reasons to stay on top of tree trimming and shrubbery pruning. Getting rid of dead branches could make your outdoor plants less susceptible to storm damage.
Other Pool and Patio Items to Move or Secure in Place
The following objects should be moved before the storm in order to avoid having them get damaged or turn into destructive projectiles that get thrown by strong storm winds.
1. Filter Housetops
2. Filter Deck Lid
3. Charcoal or Gas Grills
4. Propane Tanks
It’s an especially good idea to bring the grills indoors. Don’t ever cook on them when they’re in the house as it’s not safe. Keep your propane tanks away from the house. You can chain them up to help keep them from toppling over or getting carried up into the air by the wind.
Never Ignore Evacuation Recommendations
Sometimes people are hesitant to evacuate their homes before a storm, but it’s really not worth the risk to try to wait it out. If officials are warning you to evacuate, take their advice, leave home, and get to a safe location as soon as possible!
In our final article in this series, we’ll discuss what to do to get your pool back into shape after a storm is over.
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