Preparing Your Property for Harsh Winter Conditions

September typically means back to school, back to a normal routine, and of course the start of football season. It also means winter looms�

The Farmer�s Almanac has released its predictions for the 2103/14 winter season and once again New Englanders better be ready. The �Days of Shivery� are back! ?

The Almanac is forecasting a winter that will bring below average temperatures for about two-thirds of the nation. With a combination of below-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation the stage will be set for the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Central and Northern New England to receive lots of snow. Over the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, we are �red-flagging� the first ten days of February for possible heavy winter weather. For the complete forecast, including a map, visit www.farmersalmanac.com.

I am just the messenger of this news, but with predictions like that I would suggest preparing early and well.

Your overall winter preparation plan should start early and involve doing things like painting, sealing buildings and decks, re-sealing your driveway or parking lot, etc. Take a walk around your property, look at the foundation, the landscaping and the roof. Try to eliminate as many possibilities of requiring emergency damage repairs as possible. Here is a small check list, some obvious, others we tend to forget about:

Clean out gutters.
Disconnect, drain and store all garden hoses and lawn sprinkler lines. If possible shut off pipes to outdoor water spigots.
Insulate and seal all walls, attics, doors, windows and foundation cracks. Walk around your property and look for any daylight coming through and seal with the appropriate building product.
Roof inspection might be a bit of a project as well as investment, but it�s an important one. Remove all debris from roof and check around the flashing. You may consider having your roof structure evaluated by a contractor to be sure it is strong enough to hold the extra weight from snow. Check to see if you have large tree limbs hanging over your roof that could fall and cause major roof damage.
Insulate water pipes in basements, and crawl spaces.
Consider an insulated blanket for you hot water heater.
Cover those AC units.
If you have a fireplace and are not using it, seal off the flue.
Move furniture away from heating vents to allow better heat flow and reduce the risk of fire.
During really cold spells run a slow trickle of water to prevent pipes from freezing and/or keep cabinet doors open to help circulate warmer air around pipes.
If you are leaving your home/office during winter months, drain your water system and have someone check in while you are away.
Purchase the necessary tools or services to maintain your property during the winter months; shovels, roof rake, snow blower, ice melt, etc. It is the responsibility of the property owner to keep all walks, mailboxes, sidewalks, driveways/parking and fire hydrants in front of their property clear. In most cases you have 24 hours to do so after a storm before fines can occur, be sure you know the policies where your property is located.
Review your insurance policy thoroughly; you want to be well covered. You don�t want to be wishing you knew your insurance policy better after the fact. Be sure you have all buildings covered, (sheds, pools, decks, etc.) and that you have any special items covered (art work or other collectables)

Most of these are pretty easy, inexpensive tips that can help keep you warmer and safer during the winter months as well as ways to help save on your winter expenses.

If you are a business owner there is a little more preparation needed. In addition to assessing your building you need to have plans in place to protect the flow of business operations in case of a storm.

Calculate the cost of business interruptions due to winter elements. You should do this for one week, one month and have a long term plan. Once you have done that then you can review your insurance policy and make adjustment to your plan and or your insurance coverage.
Develop a crisis communication plan. It is a good idea to keep your staff, customers, and vendors informed. Establish an emergency line, or e-mail, that includes at least two ways to get in touch with everyone. Use social media to inform your customers that you are still open for business; this can be vital for maintaining cash flow to meet the recovery costs. In order to do this you need to keep a database of contacts and save it in a couple of different locations so you can call on it when needed.
Consider the fact that your staff may be unable to get to the office. Lay out guidelines for them to follow. Determine who must continue working on-site during severe weather, and inform the rest of your staff as to the basic tools they will need in order to work from home. If the plan is ever put into motion the employer should consider paying any additional cost to the employee, such as use of cell phones, internet, etc.
Educate your staff on your emergency plans and educate often so if something should ever occur the knowledge comes to mind quickly.

Again, this may all seem like a lot of work and upfront costs and some of it may seem unnecessary but the more you are prepared the better you, your property and your business will be. Let�s face it, the weather patterns are causing more and more unsettled weather patterns and more and more disasters which are out of our control. We can take back some of the control by being prepared. It is like school fire drills; you hope you never need to call on the training but some day you might and then you will be better off having practiced.