2019
Disaster Preparedness Guide WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019
2019 Tropical Storm Names Andrea Barry Chantal Dorian Erin Fernand Gabrielle Humberto Imelda Jerry Karen
Lorenzo Melissa Nestor Olga Pablo Rebekah Sebastien Tanya Van Wendy
A flood of preparation for disaster BY JIMMY LAROUE STAFF WRITER
It doesn’t take a flooding event for there to be a need to be prepared for a disaster. The tornadoes in 2008 and in May of this year likely made that point for many Suffolk residents. Richard Stephens, Suffolk Fire & Rescue’s deputy emergency manager, calls for people to be aware. “Whether you’re dealing with flooding, whether you’re dealing with tornadoes, or hurricanes, whatever the emergency or the
disaster might be, being prepared is key,” Stephens said. Though Suffolk is not directly on the coast, there are still numerous waterways in the city, and with that, there are plenty of areas city officials say can flood. They say people should know their flood zone associated with their homes (www.knowyourzoneva.org). The city’s Public Works Department has been doing work on roads this year to help prevent or mitigate flooding in floodprone areas. They include Pruden
Boulevard, and that work is to increase the size of the culvert on that area of road where there have been previous flooding problems, Stephens said. He said the same thing was done previously on Wilroy Road, also increasing the size of the culvert there. “The city does identify areas that flood recurrently,” Stephens said. “And they are taking steps to prevent that from happening in the future.” See PREPARATION, 5B
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Get the best help for building back up BY ALEX PERRY STAFF WRITER
Homeowners have a long road ahead of them after disasters strike, after the damage has been done and their homes are left in disarray. Contractors will be needed for all sorts of repairs, and it’s important for homeowners to find reliable, trustworthy contractors when they need them the most. The Better Business Bureau has recommendations for homeowners in need of such assistance. “Natural disasters like tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, fires and earthquakes can bring out the best in people, as strangers reach out to help others in need. Unfortunately, crisis also brings out persons who choose to take advantage of the victims,” according to a document prepared by BBB and shared by Jamie Howell with the BBB of Greater Hampton Roads. Homeowners can search on bbb.org for free information on a contractor’s Business Profile, which includes their history of complaints, verified customer reviews and their status as an Accredited Business. It’s also important to search for the company’s name online with words like “complaint,” “review” or “scam” to find any other relevant information. “There are many other
sources online for information,” Howell wrote in an email. “The BBB’s mission is to provide fact-checking information, rather than opinions, so we encourage any and all research, as long as it is fact-based.” Contractors should be able to provide a list of recent, local references about services performed, the quality of their work and the overall experience these customers had with the contractor. The best contractors for disaster relief work will most likely be local, as they are more likely to know your region and the risk of flood, hurricanes and other natural disasters that may affect their work and other existing structures, according to Howell. It’s also important that the contractor has prior experience working on homes that have suffered similar kinds of storm damage. “It’s always a good idea to know that the contractor has experience with the work they are claiming to provide, especially when it comes to more pricey work,” Howell wrote. “You want to be able to trust they can provide what you need worked on, and past work is a good indicator of possible outcome of future work.” According to BBB, homeowners should shop around and get at least three price quotes from
different businesses. Make sure that all bids consider the same set of criteria, and remember that the lowest bid may not necessarily be the best bid. If one contractor has a significantly lower bid than the others, they might either be cutting corners or don’t fully understand the work requirements. Furthermore, ensure that the contractor in question has general liability insurance. “Insurance is always important for any work with possible liability attached,” Howell wrote. “If you find a contractor is not insured, proceed with caution if you choose to continue to use them.” Before any work begins, make sure that a contract is written and signed. “Always get estimates in writing and never let any work begin without a written and signed contract,” according to BBB. “Do not be pressured into signing an agreement before you are ready and make sure you read and understand everything before signing. “The contract should include contact information, start and complete dates, a detailed description of the exact work to be done, any material costs, payment arrangements and warranty information.” Others things to consider include: building permits, which contractors usually obtain but
homeowners typically have to pay for; a lien waver, which is a statement from the contractor that states all suppliers and subcontractors have been paid for their work; and warranty coverage for future service issues. When it comes to the payment schedule, never pay in full up front. Stagger the payments so that the final payment is not due until the work is complete and you’ve been able to fully inspect the work. Also, don’t pay in cash. According to BBB, pay in a check that’s written to a company — not an individual — or use a credit card. “Paying with a credit card will provide some recourse should the job not be completed as stated in the contract,” according to BBB. Finding a contractor is a process that takes time and careful consideration, and it’s crucial that homeowners find contractors that are willing to communicate and work with them openly. “Communication is key,” Howell wrote. “Slow or unanswered complaints is something the BBB watches for as well. A contractor in question should also practice empathy and be able to understand where the homeowner is coming from with their needs and wants. The BBB rating system explains what we look for as an organization and hope to provide an example to homeowners as well.” Visit ready.gov to learn more about the potential emergencies that could occur where you live and the best ways to respond to them. When recovery work begins, visit bbb. org and other sources to find safe, reliable contractors.
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Preparation: Know your flood zone and look into getting flood insurance Continued from page 1B
Public Works will also pre-position signs prior to predicted storms in areas that see regular flooding, such as the Kimberly Bridge on North Main Street, to have detours in place. City spokeswoman Diana Klink said many divisions within Public Works have roles in flood protections, with the primary role of the department protecting the needs of public infrastructure, “most notably in terms of transportation.” Regionally, there is a current push to have people purchase flood insurance. “The damage of just one inch of water in your home can cost more than $25,000 in repairs,” said Ben McFarlane, a senior regional planner with HRPDC in a news release. “You could hope you’re never impacted by flooding. Or, you can protect yourself from devastating loss by signing up for flood insurance.” Stephens said now is the time to get flood insurance and prepare for the possibility of a flood or disaster. It must be purchased at least 30 days ahead of a storm. The website, www. GetFloodFluent.org, has more information. “Really, your No. 1 protection against flooding is being able to replace what you’ve lost,” Stephens said. “Flood insurance is separate from normal policies.” According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, there are just 995 flood insurance policyholders in Suffolk as of Sept. 30, 2018. Statewide, there are 105,933 flood insurance policyholders. Stephens outlined the Hampton Roads Hazard Mitigation Plan, which has outlined nearly $9.7 billion in the replacement value of building assets in Suffolk as of 2017. It also outlines two critical facilities in the 100-year floodplain and four in the Storm Surge Zone for a Category 3 hurricane. Suffolk ranks in the middle of the pack among Hampton Roads cities for potential impacts due to sea level rise, with 14.4 square miles of land area at risk to exposure to one meter of sea level rise above the spring high tide, affecting 4,691 people, 1,715 housing units, 4.7 miles of roads and 21 businesses, according to the vulnerability assessment in the Hampton Roads Hazard Mitigation Plan. The land area affected in Suffolk is fourth in the region behind Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and James City County, while the population affected in Suffolk trails Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton,
Norfolk and Poquoson, the same study indicates. The entire Hampton Roads region ranks second only to New Orleans as the most vulnerable area to relative sea level rise in the United States, with a Hampton Roads Planning District Commission study estimating costs to the region from three feet of sea-level rise to be $12 billion to $87 billion. There are 10 mitigation actions that the report recommended Suffolk take to prepare for a potential disaster. “Some of them have already been done, and some of them are probably going to take a little bit more time to do because of cost and so forth,” Stephens said. “But the important thing is that Suffolk is working to identify problems from disastrous storms, and we’re working towards being as prepared as possible to lessen the effects of these events.” They include the following: 4Protect repetitively flooded infrastructure and structures through elevation, acquisition, relocation, retrofits and repurposing. 4Provide emergency power to critical infrastructure, critical facilities and critical roadway intersections during extended power outages, and increase emergency generator capabilities at school facilities used as shelters to meet ADA functional needs requirements. For instance, Stephens said all of King’s Fork High School is fully operational by a generator, while the city’s other two public high schools can operate smaller areas by a generator. The city’s pet-friendly shelter is Nansemond River High School. 4Provide hurricane and flood outreach and education materials to hotels and motels in the city. 4Continue capital improvements to improve stormwater management and control flooding. 4Develop a stormwater drainage plan to address issues in floodprone areas; prioritize and implement plan recommendations. 4Continue strengthening the city’s Floodplain Management Program. 4Verify the geographic location of each National Flood Insurance Program repetitive loss property to determine if that property has been mitigated. 4Retrofit primary shelters in the city to conform to the Ultimate Design Wind Speed for Risk Category 3 structures. 4Install markers indicating flood water depth
along streets or roads subject to tidal, river or urban flooding. Stephens said this is not a high priority for the city. 4Retrofit the East Suffolk Recreation Center on Sixth Street with an emergency generator to support shelter operations for that section of the city. This, Stephens said, has already been done. That recreation center, as well as the Whaleyville Recreation Center, would be used per a memorandum of understanding with the American Red Cross to operate as emergency shelters if necessary. The American Red Cross also has a partnership to use the Salvation Army building downtown as an emergency shelter. Stephens recommends for those not as familiar with the area to reach out to neighbors to get a sense of what impact a storm could have in that neighborhood. Public Works cleans out gutters and drains ahead of a storm to help deal with the potential aftermath. After a storm has hit, Suffolk Police and Suffolk Fire & Rescue have equipment to help in the event of a flood or other disaster, Klink said. Suffolk Police’s Marine Team has a Jon boat, a Zodiac boat, an inflatable boat and two Sea-Doos. It also has two larger boats to patrol waterways in Suffolk daily between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and these boats are on-call in the winter. Suffolk Police also have a six-man dive team with extensive gear, Klink said. Suffolk Fire & Rescue
has a Marine Team to respond to incidents, Klink said, and it also has “equipment and staffing specific to conditions created by flood waters,” Klink said. Its assets include two 10-foot inflatable Zodiacs on trailers, a 16-foot rescue boat and a 23-foot Maycraft fire boat that can be used in regional efforts. It also has dry suits and cold-weather gear to work in any air or water temperatures. Stephens said if the city needed other resources, it could contact the state and potentially bring in the National Guard or other resources. In reacting to an emergency, Stephens said the key would be the communication among departments, and communicating with residents to help them understand what’s available to help them and what steps they can take to prepare for a storm. The priority in responding to a disaster, flood or other event will be saving lives before all else, Stephens said. “The important thing is that Suffolk is working to identify problems from disasters, storms, things of that nature,” Stephens said. “We’re working as hard as possible to lessen the effects of these kinds of events to the citizens.”
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How to safely handle a prolonged power outage
Accidents and storms can disrupt the electricity that powers everything in homes and businesses. A short-term loss of power can be a nuisance, but extended power outages can cause damage and may even be dangerous. Widespread power outages are often anticipated during or after severe storms, which can disable entire power grids. Because damaged power lines and infrastructure must be carefully assessed after severe storms, it may take anywhere from hours to several days before power is fully restored. The Food and Drug Administration says that
food spoilage is one of the hazards of long-term power outages. If a storm is imminent, you can be proactive by freezing the contents of the refrigerator when possible so that items can stay at safe temperatures longer, advises the FDA. Food can remain safe for up to two hours at refrigerator temperature before it starts to spoil. Grouping food together in the freezer also can help it stay colder longer. Having extra ice on hand or freezing containers of water also can provide a chilling effect, as well as serve as a water supply if faucet water is unavailable — which can be a con-
cern for those with wellpumped water. Your grill can turn out to be your best friend during power outages. Many stoves, even gas ones, will not light because of electric ignitions. A gas camping stove or grill can serve as the primary place to cook food until power is restored. Always have a secondary propane tank on hand. Keep plenty of bottled water on hand, especially if your water supply is wellfed and requires an electric pump to activate flow. Stock up on blankets and warm clothing. Power outages during the winter can be especially challeng-
ing because of the lack of heat in a home. Family members can huddle together in small rooms to conserve heat. People with wood-burning stoves can use them to keep warm. Fireplaces tend to be more show than ambient heat providers, but they can still serve as a heat source in a pinch. If you have a generator, run it safely. Generators should be operated as far away from the house as possible to avoid deadly carbon monoxide fumes. Also, use appropriately-gauged, outdoor-rated extension cords to power up generators. It is also important to
stay put and avoid the road after a storm that causes a power outage. Wires may be down, traffic lights may not work and dangerous
debris may be littering the roads. Hunkering down is the best approach until power is restored. Metro Creative
Emergency preparedness tips for seniors Natural disasters can strike at any time, and when they do, the damage is often considerable. According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, between 2005 and 2014, natural disasters caused $1.4 trillion in damage across the globe, affecting 1.7 billion people along the way. Various preventive measures can protect people and their homes from the potentially devastating impact of natural disasters. One way to prevent tragedy related to natural disasters is to develop an emergency preparedness plan before the next storm strikes. That’s important for everyone, but especially so for seniors, many of whom live with mobility issues that can com-
promise their ability to escape the eye of oncoming storms. In recognition of the potential problems seniors face when natural disasters strike, the American Red Cross offers the following tips to seniors and their families so aging men and women can make it through such situations safe and sound. 4 Make arrangements to contact loved ones. Prior to an emergency, seniors and their support network should make arrangements to make immediate contact once a disaster strikes. Determine who will make initial contact and how that contact will be made (i.e., via phone, text message, social media, etc.), as well as who will be responsible for providing assistance if necessary.
Such a plan lets everyone within the support network know their precise responsibilities, which limits confusion in the sometimes hectic hours and days after disaster strikes. 4Exchange keys. Make sure everyone in the support network has keys to seniors’ homes. In so doing, support networks are increasing the chances that someone will be able to reach potentially vulnerable seniors if the primary contacts are incapable of doing so. 4Let others know where emergency supplies are kept. Everyone should have emergency supplies in their homes. Seniors should not take it for granted that such supplies can be easily found if they become incapacitat-
ed during a storm. Make sure such information can be easily accessed during a storm by emailing it to your support network and/ or posting the information in a convenient location in your home, such as on the refrigerator. 4Share your evacuation plans. In the wake of recent disasters, many communities that did not previously feel vulnerable to natural disasters have devised evacuation plans for residents. Seniors should share these plans with their support networks. Doing so makes it easier for relatives to find you if you must evacuate your home before help arrives. 4Share important medical information. Seniors should share medical information, such as health care providers
Prepare for the financial impact of natural disasters The fury of Mother Nature’s wrath is displayed in vivid color during stormy times of year, including hurricane season. And it seems no area of the planet is safe from such furor. In September 2018, Hurricane Florence battered the southeastern coast of the United States while Typhoon Mangkhut hit Hong Kong. Just a few months earlier, California saw devastating wild fires, and in August torrential rain flooded many areas of Taiwan. After the flood waters recede and the rain or smoke has passed, people affected by storms must face the financial ramifications. Whether storms touch down nearby or overseas, the globalized economy means the financial fallout from natural disasters can be felt near and wide. The National Centers for Environmental Information estimates that hurricanes cost an average of $21.8 billion per event in damages
for the United States. Since 1980, when data started to be collected, NCEI indicates hurricanes, drought, flooding, wildfires, freezes and winter storms tend to be the most costly events. It’s easy to underestimate the scope of the financial burdens caused by natural disasters. Here are a few ways to protect one’s financial interests in advance of natural disasters. 4Experts advise consumers to review and update their insurance policies regularly. Many homeowners are underinsured for natural disasters, particularly for flooding or earthquakes, which are not included in most policies. 4Adjust insurance shortfalls based on what insurers provide and the type of weather that tends to affect the area in which you live. 4Policies should reimburse for hotel rooms or meals out if a home is uninhabitable after a disaster. In a Consumer Reports survey of people who experienced
property damage after a hurricane, 5 percent said they had to stay elsewhere, while 42 percent needed to relocate temporarily after damages from wildfires. 4Remove valuables and store them in a bank safety deposit box or another location that’s outside the path of the storm. Theft, vandalism and looting can occur after storms. 4Have a backup employment plan and savings strategy if storms come through regularly. It is not uncommon for local businesses to shut down for some time to recover. This can mean temporary or permanent loss of employment. 4Recognize your portfolio may suffer as commodity prices and stocks take a hit if regions are decimated by natural disasters. Think ahead in regard to how your investments may be affected and make changes accordingly to mitigate the financial damage. Metro Creative
and a list of the medications they’re taking. This can make things easier for emergency responders to successfully treat people who become incapacitated during storms.
Emergency preparedness strategies save lives. More information about how seniors can prepare for emergencies is available at www.redcross.org. Metro Creative