While Hurricane Preparedness Week represents just 7 days (for 2016, it’s May 15 – May 21), the hurricane season is much longer, running from June 1 to November 30. And yes, severe storms continue to be rare, but folks in and around New Orleans are well aware that each year, as June arrives, anything can happen.
If and when a major storm arrives, folks throughout New Orleans, Covington, Mandeville, and Slidell are left picking up the pieces. This post-storm cleanup can include simple tasks such as raking small branches to far more consuming projects, such as repairing a home – or neighborhood – that’s been utterly destroyed.
While no one wants to think about the worst-case scenario, it is important for folks throughout Southeast Louisiana to be prepared. So, what can you, your family, and neighbors do to prepare for this year’s hurricane season?
One of the most important decisions you can make is to get to know your local residential dumpster provider. The benefits of working with a residential dumpster provider – following a hurricane – are nearly endless.
- Quick response – Residential dumpster companies work only with personal residences, meaning they’re not saddled by the demands of commercial clients. When you need a dumpster to haul away debris or remnants of a storm, folks like Bin There Dump That are just a phone call away.
- Affordability – An advantage of renting a residential dumpster, vs. a commercial-grade bin, is that you can choose models that are sized to be friendly to your property and wallet. Do you really need a 60-yard bin for your home? Probably not. Residential dumpsters offer more versatility, which your bank account will appreciate!
- Flexible drop-off and pick-up times – Companies like Bin There Dump That live in your neighborhood; when you endure the wrath of Mother Nature, we do too. We understand the stress associated with a post-hurricane cleanup. We know you may need time to recover; or, you may want to start the cleanup process immediately to move on with your life. Either way, we make it easy for you to remove all remnants of the storm, at your leisure.
Tips for folks throughout New Orleans, Mandeville and beyond following a hurricane
While we suggest one of your first steps being contacting your local residential dumpster provider – following a storm – there are other steps you should take during your cleanup process. These include:
- Address standing water – Standing water is dangerous for many reasons. Many folks know that standing water can serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes (and the diseases they carry). But standing water in your home can cause structural damage as well. If you have minimal water, you could remove it on your own; otherwise, we recommend contacting your local restoration company (we can offer our own recommendations!)
- Capture the damage – If your home or property has been damaged in a hurricane, then you must document these damages immediately for insurance purposes. Use a camera, however, don’t just take pictures. Shoot video as well! The more detail you have, the easier filing your claim will be.
- Address the moisture – We talked about removing standing water, but don’t forget the amount of water that’s likely lingering in the air. Bring a fan or dehumidifier into your home to remove moist air. This will help reduce the likelihood of mold growth.
- Assess your roof damage – It’s fairly easy to scan your home’s interior and know what’s damaged and what’s not. Your roof is a different story; but without a secure roof, your entire home is at risk of collapsing. We suggest hiring a professional to assess this damage.
As long-time neighbors in the Greater New Orleans region, we’ve seen what happens following a massive hurricane. No, we’re not talking about the damage; we’re talking about the community. We’re talking about camaraderie. We’re often moved by the neighborly love we see throughout the region when Mother Nature rears her ugly head, so much so that we strive to be positive contributors to our community.
If you find yourself a victim of the damage caused by a hurricane or massive storm, we urge you to contact us immediately. We’ll do everything we can to help you restore order to your life so that you and your loved ones can get back on track.
Contact us today to learn more.