How to Best Prepare for the Atlantic Hurricane Season 2020
While it’s ‘only’ June, this year more than ever before, we urge you to get ready for this hurricane season!
Why?
Due to the pandemic aka coronavirus aka COVID-19, the world as we knew it has changed! When the first hurricane arrives, and believe us when we say it will, how will you move forward, how will you prepare, how will you get your hands on supplies?
We foresee difficulties in preparing and going through the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season. How you will be able to survive and come out on top compared to previous years?
This includes potential difficulty with:
- evacuating across state lines
- traveling while social distancing
- social distancing in public shelters
- shortage of basic supplies
- being sick at home during a hurricane
- being hospitalized during a hurricane
- helping elderly family members while social distancing
We Do Not Have All The Answers to Hurricane Prep and COVID-19
While we do not claim to have all the answers on how to solve all these potential difficulties, we do feel now is the time to stop, think and prepare!
Now is also the time to demand your local government and leadership step up with their hurricane preparation plan! Find out what Horry County and Georgetown County emergency services are doing to prepare for the 2020 Hurricane Season.
We simply suggest you email or call them to ask what new rules and regulations will be in place for public shelters, traveling and hospitalizations.
Preparing doesn’t mean you need to get all the answers immediately: it means working towards an answer so that when the time comes, you can put your hand on the answers quicker!
We Can Help You With Your 2020 Hurricane Preparation
While we do not know what hurricane might be headed for the South Carolina shore, we do know that proper preparation is vital to survival and a quicker recovery.
We have THREE RESOURCES to share with you!
First, we invite you to join our Hurricane Prep Facebook Group!
We are a one-stop hurricane prep shop and plan to be the group to find answers to questions as a hurricane approaches our South Carolina shoreline.
Second, we invite you to download the updated 2020 South Carolina Hurricane Guide for Homeowners. This guide has everything you need to get started with hurricane prep right now!
Last but not least, check out this shareable INFOGRAPHIC
It’s Hurricane Season. Hurricane Preparation Starts Now
As you enjoy your summer weather, time spend on the beaches, on the bike trails and on the water, do not ignore the fact that a hurricane can be just a few days away!
Once a hurricane makes its appearance in the Atlantic, it will be too late to try to get extra toilet paper, cleaning products or a generator, just to name a few things you might need, as these are already in short supply due to the pandemic!
How To Attain a Germ-Free Smarthome in the Post COVID-19 World
Smarthomes Can Be Touch-Free Homes
Kids touch everything.
It’s just how they are.
They touch their face, their mouth, their eyes, pets, food, and any surface they come in contact with at home, at school and on-the-go!
In the age of COVID-19 and the coronavirus pandemic, touching means possibly coming in contact with COVID-19 germs. While social distancing measures certainly have helped the spread of this virus, it’s hard to know exactly when and where you are most exposed to germs.
There is one place you are safe. Once you’ve quarantined your family for at least two weeks, you can be assured the coronavirus is not in your home.
As the country is looking for ways to reopen and restart our economy, we are all looking for ways to touch less surfaces and stay germ-free as much as possible
Voice Activation Means Germ-Free Automation!
Smarthomes with voice activation is your solution to keeping you and your loved ones safe.
Not having to touch multiple surfaces will eliminate close contact with those who might visit your home as the country is opening back up again.
Whether you install voice-activation at home or in your business, it is the best tool in your arsenal against spreading germs.
URC Smarthome Technology: Touch-Free and Germ-Free Technology
At Strand Security, we trust URC to do the job for us. URC is fully-integrated and gives your whole house automation and control!
URC can
- alarm your home
- monitor your cameras
- light your rooms
- stream shows and films
- draw your shades
- pump music through your home
- lock your doors
and so much more.
Smarthome Technology Experts in Myrtle Beach
Who should you call when you need a smarthome with voice activation in the Myrtle Beach area? Whether you live in Horry County or Georgetown County, Strand Security can help you with URC installation and integration! Complete set up of the system including teaching you how to use the controls and all features.
Trust the smarthome experts who’ve been installing smarthome technology for years! Add to that the fact we don’t just work here, but we also live right here on the Grand Strand. Strand Security is a locally owned and locally operated small business to help you protect those you love and to secure that what you worked so hard for!
Doing Our Part to Stop The Spread of Germs on the Grand Strand
We are a proud partner with WBTW News 13 in their 13Cares Program as a response to the coronavirus outbreak on the Grand Strand.
We are doing our part to stop the spread of germs and to keep everyone safe!
Let us know how we can help you!
10 Reasons to Love Living in South Carolina
Meet the South Carolina We Love!
Who hasn’t heard James Taylor’s words;
“In my mind I’m gone to Carolina
Can’t you see the sunshine?
Can’t you just feel the moonshine?
Ain’t it just like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind?
Yes, I’m gone to Carolina in my mind”
This article is the 5th installment of our series called “10 Reasons To Love….”
Today, we share why we love South Carolina!
As Strand Security celebrates 10 years in business in 2020, we are sharing a new blog each month. We love living and working on the Grand Strand and this year-long celebration of all things we love is an ode to our beautiful state and community!
To read the previous articles in this series, check out
10 Reasons to Love our Community
10 Reasons to Love a Home Theater
10 Reasons to Love Smarthomes
10 Reasons to Love the Grand Strand
10 Reasons To Love Living in South Carolina
Here are the 10 reasons we love living (and working) in South Carolina, now find yours!
1. Love the Beaches in South Carolina!
Yes, you read that right!
2,876 miles of tidal coastline in South Carolina means a lot of beaches. Want to know where to go to find the BEST beaches? Look no more, but read this.
2. Love the Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina
Did you know South Carolina has mountains? Sassafras Mountian stands 3560 feet tall. Discover the Blue Ridge Mountains in South Carolina!
Take adventure to new heights in the majestic mountain region of the Palmetto State. With spectacular hiking trails, scenic waterfalls and sweeping views, the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina are an outdoor enthusiast’s dream.
3. Love the South Carolina Sub-Tropical Climate
Outdoor enthusiasts as well as those who despise winter snow and cold, rave about the sub-tropical climate of South Carolina.
4. Love South Carolina for Their Sweet Tea
Did you know that Sweet Tea is thought be originated in Summerville, SC?
Learn more about it here!
5. Love South Carolina Cooking
There certainly are recipes that scream ‘South Carolina Home Cooking’
They include delicacies like
- Tomato Pie
- Collard Greens
- Peach Cobbler
Find those recipes and more here.
6. Love the Southern Hospitality
While we as residents of South Carolina certain know that southern hospitality is charming, it’s always wonderful to hear someone form outside our beautiful state sing our praises.
7. Love South Carolina Football!
It’s an experience, not just a one-time event.
Whether you love the Gamecocks, the Tigers or the Chanticleers, chances are that you’ll love the overall experience that South Carolina football gives us like nothing else.
Check out the picture in this article that says it all!
8. Love South Carolina BBQ
There are many different types of South Carolina Barbecue, but they all start with pork!
In South Carolina, that meat is invariably pork — sometimes pulled from a whole hog, sometimes chopped from a slow-smoked shoulder or ham, but always deriving from somewhere on the pig. In fact, try this experiment. Take a South Carolinian to a barbecue buffet (there is not shortage of such operations in the Palmetto State) and ask him or her, “go get me some barbecue.” What you’re going to get back is guaranteed. The steam table may be loaded down with ribs, chicken quarters, and maybe even sliced brisket, but unless they just recently moved to the state from Ohio, your dining companion is certain to bring you back a plate piled high with pork.
9. Love South Carolina Porches
Southern houses and porches – the perfect pair!
Our lovely weather is conducive to long evenings on the porch. Unless you live in one of our cities in a small apartment, most South Carolina houses feature a front (or rear) porch as a must-have outdoor room!
10. Love South Carolina Nature
There are so many wonderful State parks, beaches, lakes and other nature-rich areas to explore in South Carolina.
Places like Brookgreen Garden, The Myrtle Beach State Park, Editso River and Rave Cliff Falls! Learn more here.
Why Do you Love South Carolina So?
Let us know in the comments, here or on Facebook, what you love most about our beautiful Palmetto State!
The Ultimate Hurricane Preparedness Week 2020 Recap
Hurricane Preparedness Week 2020
If you missed the Hurricane Preparedness Week 2020, no worries!
Strand Security cares about their customers. As we have done now for several years, we are here to help you get ready for the next hurricane season.
We have the perfect recap of everything you need to get yourself, your family, your business and your home ready for the Atlantic Hurricane season.
How To Determine Your Hurricane Risk!
Hurricanes bring many hazards to our South Carolina coastlines as well as inland areas. These hazards include storms surges, flooding, tornadoes, strong winds, rip currents and large waves.
Learn about your specific location by know your Hurricane Zone and asking your neighbors about previous experiences, if you are in a new home.
Assessing your risk now will help you plan better for when an emergency arrives during the hurricane season.
How to Develop a Hurricane Evacuation Plan!
Find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation zone. Next, determine who will issuing the evacuation orders during the hurricane season for your area. Your evacuation plan should include multiple options about where to go, depending on the projected path of the incoming hurricane. For those on the South Carolina coast, previous evacuation routes and destinations have included going south towards Georgia, west towards Augusta and Tennessee, north-west towards the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina and due north towards Washington DC.
Always remember your pets when you make your evacuation plans.
What Hurricane Supplies Will You Need?
For those times evacuation is necessary, you will still need to assemble hurricane supplies.
With cleaning supplies toilet paper and face masks in short supply, the earlier you start assembling, the better your chances are of completing your hurricane supply kit!
Know Your Insurance Coverage!
Know your insurance coverage by checking in with your agent now during hurricane preparedness week. Make copies of all insurance policies and important documents – consider scanning them as well and keeping copies online, secured in cloud storage.
How to Prepare your Home for an Approaching Hurricane!
Strengthen your home, reinforce windows, clean up outside. All of these will help you once a hurricane approaches your area. You will run out of time and local stores will run out of supplies; start preparing your home today.
Community Outreach During a Hurricane
Help your neighbors! Community support is of vital importance during a hurricane – even more so now in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you know of senior citizens in your community, offer to help them with hurricane preparations.
Hurricane Planning Starts Now With a Written Plan!
When is plan is only in your head, you will forget to complete certain important tasks. Always write out your plan and keep it handy for when the emergency arrives. it’s as easy as creating a Google Document and sharing it with all family members in the household. That way, you can share in the responsibilities of getting your home, business and family ready for the next hurricane.
The 2020 South Carolina Hurricane Guide Is Coming!
Stay tuned to Strand Security as an updated 2020 South Carolina Hurricane Guide for Homeowners is being worked on right now!
10 Reasons to Love a Home Theater
Home is Where We Are Quarantined!
As we write and publish this, South Carolina’s Governor McMaster has extended a state of emergency declaration and lockdown order until April 27, 2020.
South Carolinians are expected to stay home, quarantined, and only leave their homes to go out for essential services.
While this order is in effect in South Carolina, 97% of the USA in under the same or similar order, essentially keeping 80+ million kids at home instead of in school.
Home is where we are quarantined. How are you staying entertained?
Home Entertainment Is How We Stay Sane in Times of Uncertainty
We just saw a scary meme on Facebook!
While this is sort of funny, aren’t you at least glad it 2020 and we have home computers, smartphones, unlimited data plans, the internet and streaming services, right?!
While this article is the 4th in a series of 12 articles*, this title struck a cord this month, as we are reliant on home entertainment as we are ‘stuck’ at home.
Don’t you wish you had a home theater already?
Here are…
10 Reasons To Love Your Own Home Theater Now More Than Ever!
1) Old Home Movies
Old home movies will provide hours of entertainment. Why watch them on a small tv, or worse, on your hand-held devices? Instead, watch them on the big screen, with your family! Project them, use a smartTV or HTMI cable to watch your old movies in your own home theater!
2) Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime or Disney on the Big Screen
Sights and sounds; we Americans like everything big! Movie theaters are well-loved in this country and those who can, love to watch streaming services on the big screen as well. A home theater allows you to do just that; it’s an excellent way to show tv shows and movies on the big screen, with surround sound!
3) YouTube Streamed to your TV!
Did you know that YouTube is the second largest search engine? YouTube videos are watched my millions of people per hour; watching YouTube videos on a big screen is an amazing experience. What is your favorite channel?
4) Family Movies
Classic movies like Mary Poppins, the Lion King or The Princes Bride; they are bigger, better and offer more family fun when watched in a home theater! Invite the cousins (after the lockdown is over, of course), friends or host a sleepover birthday party in your own home theater.
5) Date Night at Home
Not all parents with babies or small children want to hire babysitters for a date night. If you have your own home theater, you can stay in while going on a date, any time the mood strikes! BYOPopcorn and have that glass of wine or a beer; no need to drive home.
6) Family Gaming
Wii, PS4, Xbox – no matter your choice of gaming system, a home theater makes the gaming experience more real and life-like. A home theater also affords you more room to spread out and play – and offers a dedicated space for gaming where you could keep an eye on the kids!
7) Karaoke Parties
Challenge your kids to a Karaoke sing off! It’s a great way to expend some energy for the whole family and you’ll likely be surprised by the song choices your family member make. A home theater will make everyone sound better!
8) Live Sport Events
While there are no live sporting events to watch during this pandemic, rewatching some classic games, some of the best finals, races and events can be a fun way to spend an evening. Once sports are back... you’ll be glad for that home theater! Trust us when we ay that with the right speakers, it will sound like the sports commentator is sitting next to you!
9) Concerts at Home
If you love concerts; whether it is pop concerts, country music or The Boston Pops, concerts sound and look better with surround sound on a big screen. Bonus; you can belt out the songs as loud as you want, without bothering anyone.
10) Video Chats with Family
Seeing grandma or Uncle Harry on the big screen is the next best thing to hugging them in real life! Instead of facetiming on your small device, bring them into your home theater!
BONUS) Church Services
While this is a completely new phenomenon, we did want to mention it here as were are on a continued lockdown and stay home order! Almost all churches have gone virtual with their church services. Why not watch church in your home theater! What a beautiful experience that might turn out to be.
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Serious Side Note:
We are well aware that some people do have to work during this time! Strand Security is in fact, deemed an essential business, we are here, ready to serve our customers! We also want to thank medical staff, support staff and all other essential workers for their sacrifice to keeping our country running.
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* Other articles in this 12-Part Year-Long Anniversary series include
10 Reasons to Love the Grand Strand
10 Reasons to Love Smarthomes
10 Reasons to Love our Community
The Best Work From Home Cybersecurity Tips
Working From Home Unexpectedly?
Have you been asked (or told) to work from home due to the coronavirus pandemic? How is that going for you? It’s been a few weeks and we sure hope that you have been able to hold on to your job; we do understand that many people have been furloughed, or let go due to loss of business.
- If you are lucky enough to work for a company that has retained you and asked you to work from home, this is for you.
- If you are spending time at home looking for a job, or if your kids are at home working on school assignments, this is for you.
- If you have elderly parents who due to being quarantined are spending more time online, this is for you as well
Remote Working Is The New Normal During This Pandemic
While remote work has been the status quo for only 7% of the US workforce prior to the COVID-19, it has become the ‘new normal’ during this pandemic.
Whole office buildings are empty, and millions of people have scrapped their community to start working from home. Of the 80+ million American school children, 97% are home home, engaged in distance learning through the internet.
These remote workers and students now work at kitchen tables, in bedrooms, basements, or living rooms instead of cubicles and fancy offices and in schools.
Some have families or pets at home who might or might not distract them.
Remote Work Tips From Those Who Have Experience
While many people are experiencing working from home for the first time, navigating and learning what works and what doesn’t, as they go, looking to those who already worked from home for tips is a smart idea.
Who has prior experience, you ask?
Freelancers, creatives like graphic designers and web designers, authors, customer service, sales etc.; whole industries are build on remote workers.
Here is an article filled with 30+ tips from those who have experience as remote workers! These kids can be applied to employees as well as students!
How To Stay Sane, Married and Employed While Working Remote
Now, we all know that due to social distancing and mandatory quarantines, we are spending way more time online than usual. Facebook is reporting that their usage is up by over 50%!
In times of stress and worry, humor is a great way to get relief.
Check out this funny video with excellent tips on how to stay married, employed and sane while working remote.
Cybersecurity Tips For Students and Remote Workers!
Whether you are working from home yourself, or your children are on the internet all day long for distance learning, here are the best tips to keep you and your loved ones safe!
🔥Be aware of phishing scams! Do not click on emails or messages asking you to check or renew passwords and login credentials, even if they seem to come from a trusted source.
🔥Recheck your Wi-Fi connection; update your password. While most Wi-Fi is correctly secured, some older installations might not be, which means people in the near vicinity can snoop your traffic or hack into your system – call us at Strand Security if you aren’t sure!
🔥Reset passwords frequently and if sharing accounts with coworkers, always use a password manager to share passwords, never in an email.
🔥Install anti-virus software and keep it updated.
🔥Use your home security system to keep an eye on your home and your family, but make sure the system itself is secure against hacking!
🔥Back up all important files – we recommend backing up files on both a hard drive as well as in the cloud.
🔥Get into the habit of locking your computer and phone screens. While you are in quarantine with family members, this might not be of huge concern, but if you do have sensitive data on your devices, it’s always a good idea to keep your devices locked.
🔥Stick to HTTPS websites! Do not enter your credit card information unless you know and trust the site.
Don’t forget to share these tips with your elderly parents active online as well!
10 Reasons To Love Our Community
This is the THIRD in a series of 12 articles published to celebrate Strand Security’s 10th anniversary. Read:
10 Reasons To Love The Grand Strand
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While this article was planned back in January 2020 as part of our 12 month-long 10-year anniversary celebration, this month is the right time to write it as we are collectively struggling with the effects of a Pandemic.
What a different article it will be than originally planned.
While we at Strand Security love our community, we have come to understand how much our community loves us back.
In light of this COVID-19 Pandemic, our Grand Strand community is doing some amazing things.
Check out these amazing people, groups, organizations, and individuals who call the Grand Strand ‘home’. We are honored to live and work here alongside them.
Here Are 10 Reasons to Love Our Community!
(in no particular order!)
1) #MyrtleBeachStrong Bringing Hope To Those in Need
The city of Myrtle Beach shares a message of strength during COVID-19 pandemic.
Christian Sliker with the Myrtle Beach Fire Department came up with the idea of #MyrtleBeachStrong.
“Be safe, be calm, be responsible, be #MyrtleBeachStrong,” the city of Myrtle Beach said in a post.
The Myrtle Beach community will see this message on local billboards; and on social media where we all meet to offer help and support.
2) Facebook Groups Connect Offers of Help With Those in Need
Horry County Citizen’s Crisis Response Facebook group is brand new just this month, yet already had helped so many local residents.
This local news story tells to story of a 93-year-old woman who needed a new fridge. Not only was a new fridge donated, but it was also picked up, delivered and stocked full of food. What an amazing act of kindness.
3) Restaurant Delivery Service During This Pandemic
While this might not matter to some, to others who don’t know how to cook or care to cook, the closing of restaurants has been hard. Another reason to love our community is that restaurants now deliver food!
Check out this story and be sure to order some food; for curbside pickup or delivery. One Facebook user shared that a local restaurant added a gift of toilet paper to his delivery, which made his day!
4) Teachers Hold Parade For Kids
If the kids can’t come to school, teachers will show the kids how much they care!
Teachers and staff from Burgess Elementary paraded through their kid’s neighborhoods on Monday with decorated cars honking and waving from a safe distance so their school children would know they were thinking of them during the coronavirus recess.
Due to social distancing practices, the cars carried only a couple of teachers each, hence the need for about a dozen cars in the procession.
As the cars slowly drove by, teachers waved and greeted their kids by name. Students didn’t walk up to the cars out of safety precautions, but waved back as the teachers passed.
5) A Little River Distillery is Making Craft Sanitizers
Due to the coronavirus, Twelve 33 Distillery is switching from making craft liquor to craft sanitation supplies to help local hospitals and residents.
Osborn said while he wouldn’t make liquor this strong, his stills can produce alcohol strong enough to put into sanitizer. Currently, he is using the Center for Disease Control’s recipe for hand sanitizer and hopes to be giving it out to residents, hospitals and public safety soon.
6) Community Pop-Up Pantries
Like this one at Infinity Hair Salon next to Walmart at 3630 Walton Dr, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.
‘Take what you need, leave what you don’t”
Donations are streaming in and those in need can just come and take, no questions asked!
7) Hot Meals Served Daily to Those in Need
While cooking at home is great, what if you don’t have a home? The Shepherd’s Table serves a hot meal twice per day. They are located in Conway and serve a to-go lunch at 11 AM – 12 PM and to-go dinner 4 PM-5:30 PM according to their Facebook Page.
1412 Gamecock Ave # A, Conway, SC 29526
8) Fresh Produce at Reduced Prices
When the hotels and restaurants started to close, local company A & A Produce found themselves ‘stuck’ with lots of fresh produce. Rather than throw it away, they pivoted and offered $20 boxes of fresh produce to the community. That offer has been well-received.
9) When Hotel Kitchens Shut Down, Food Inventory Was Donated
We found this post to be so heart-warming.
It starts like this:
“hi guys!! my father works at a hotel at the beach and he had to shut down his kitchen so that means that he has a lot of perishable items to give away!
if you or someone you know needs the following items, please feel free to reach out and dm me!!
everything is FREE and has to go!!
if you know people that are in need, let me know!!
we are willing to deliver as well!”
The response was overwhelming – all food was distributed and donated! Well done.
10) Local Resident Collects Easter Baskets To be Be Delivered Along With Food
Marnie Kennedy is no stranger to helping out. During recent hurricanes and floods, she has been the driving force behind many projects to benefit local Grand Strand Residents. Her tagline ‘Leave it To Marnie’ is brilliant. Check out how she’s organizing a 3000 Easter Basket project.
If you are in need or know of someone else in need, please reach out to us at Strand Security. We will do what we can to help!
How To Be Safe at Home During a Pandemic
Social Distancing, Self-Quarantine, and Shelter-in-Place
No matter where you live or work, chances are that you’ve been affected by COVID-19. “In times like these” isn’t a phrase we can use because none of us have ever seen a time like this before. We are in this together, whether we like it, or not.
As South Carolinians, we have dealt with floods, hurricanes and lengthy school closures, but nothing of this magnitude.
Whether you are practicing social distancing, self-quarantining or have been asked to shelter in place, please know we feel anxiety, stress and worries just like you are.
Everyone is Home; How to Stay Safe!
Now that everyone in your household, and perhaps with an extra family member, college student or elderly parents who moved (back) in, is home – how can you keep everyone safe?
Physical Safety
Unless you’ve opened your pool early this year, or you are using power tools, staying safe at home during this Pandemic means practicing and adhering to safety protocols as usual.
Test and change your smoke alarm batteries, tend to fires, and be sure to alarm you home when you are in it!
Watch your kids as you normally would – and remove known safety hazards.
Mental Health
This is a bit trickier. Your mental health is important to be able to function at home for the long haul of being quarantined. Make sure to use technology to connect with loved ones, pick up new hobbies and above all, eat healthily and exercise! If you have a pet, taking care of your pet’s needs or walking your dog also helps relieve stress.
Health
It’s easy to fall into bad habits; while we can’t go out and eat, this is a great time to cook, bake and enjoy some home-made recipes. Do go to the store once per week if possible to buy fresh produce; it’s more important than ever to take in as many vitamins and minerals as possible to boost your immune system!
Everyone is Home; How to Stay Sane!
As far as occupying your time and entertainment goes, we have some ideas to share.
Sound System
Hold family dance parties, create TikTok videos and just move! Use your Sonos sound system to wake up the house and sing!
Home Theater
Pull out old family movies, watch long-forgotten classics or stream the latest Hulu, NetFlix, Disney or Amazon Prime shows and movies. Home theaters at a time like this can offer great relief at the end of yet another quarantined day!
Technology Saves The Day
As far as technology goes, the sky is the limit. Imagine it and you can do it!
- Chat with friends through Facetime
- Jump on a Zoom family call and see Grandma and Grandpa
- Play Bingo with cousins
- Start a game of Cards against Humanity with friends
- Have ‘dinner and wine’ with your neighbors via Facebook Portal
- Go on a virtual museum tour
- Check out remote place with Google Earth
We’ve seen the gamut and encourage you to ‘think outside the box’ to stay connected while distancing.
After all, we really should call it physical distancing, not social distancing!
Stay safe, healthy and connected and give us a call if you need anything.
Smart Solutions for Businesses; Smart Owners Automate
Smarthomes Are All the Rage, How About Smart Businesses?
It’s no secret that we at Strand Security love Alarm.com.
In December 2018, we welcomed Alarm.com to the Strand Security family of brands we use and endorse. As always, we don’t just recommend brands, we use them too, to keep our own families safe.
Engineered for small and medium-sized business owners, Smarter Business Security combines intelligent intrusion detection, video surveillance, access control, and energy management into a single, cost-effective solution.
Smart Business Owners Chose Alarm.com
What can Alarm.com do for your business?
Connect your
- security
- lights
- locks
- thermostats
- video
- and more
for seamless automation and control!
From Alarm.com:
Get visibility into activity trends to make smarter decisions around staffing, promotions, energy use and more.
Easy to understand reports let you quickly see activity patterns across your business and spot unexpected changes.
Get smart!
Get Alarm.com from Strand Security and let us help you optimize your business for excellent ROI – and peace of mind!
Smart Business Owners Make Smart Choices!
What does automating business tasks do for the business owner?
Smart business owners use their money wisely. They budget their money, market themselves and invest in new technology when and where available to stay up-to-date on industry newest, smartest and savviest ways to do business.
Let’s take a look; here are 5 reasons why your business should be a ‘smart business’!
1) Smart Businesses Save Time
When recurring tasks in a business environment are automated, this means time is saved each day.
Personnel who were previously responsible for these daily tasks, now have time for other tasks.
2) Smart Businesses Save Money
The automation of business tasks saves not only time but money, because of the fact that time = money in buisness.
Automation saves money, always.
3) Smart Businesses Are More Energy Efficient
When you can automate your thermostat in your business to optimize energy use, you will become more energy efficient.
4) Smart Businesses Are Run Better
How often do you or your employees ‘forget’ tasks?
Do they forget to lock doors, start the computer, turn down the temperature, forget to open shades, or forget to lower them when the sun shines…?
Businesses who automate run better. When your business runs better, it if more efficient, which means… you save money!
5) Smart Businesses Make For Better Run Businesses
In the end, it comes down to this;
taking advantage of available technology is smart business.
Whether you automate security, office temperature, daily tasks, or use technology for sales, marketing, and PR; NOT using the available technology will give your competition an advantage!
You aren’t in the business of giving others your business now, are you?
10 Reasons To Love the Grand Strand
We at Strand Security are celebrating 10 years on the Grand Strand!
So many wonderful things have happened to our Strand families, our business and within our community! We can’t think of a better way to celebrate than to share our wonderful community with you.
We arrived in 2010 to start a new life in South Carolina; to kick off this year-long celebration, let’s count the ways we love the Grand Strand.
1) Love The Grand Strand for Its Beaches!
With over 60 miles of beaches, the Grand Strand spans from the Winyah Bay in the south to Little River in the north; it is an arc of beach land on the Atlantic Ocean in South Carolina, United States.
With over 60 miles of beaches, you will find a beach you love.
This area includes two State Parks; Huntington Beach State Park and Myrtle Beach State Park, as well as many smaller municipalities with beachfront access.
2) Love The Grand Strand for Its Golf Courses!
Did you know…
The Grand Strand is home to 90 (yes, ninety) golf courses?
That’s a huge number and a huge variety of places to play. There is a course for every golfer, whether you are a beginner or a life-longer player, or somewhere in between
While we are at it, we looked for the number of minigolf courses. While it was harder to find a number, it is at least 30 by this account.
Ready to tee up?!
3) Love The Grand Strand for Its Entertainment!
While the beach and golf are the two main attractions for tourists, there are many more ways to entertain the family when visiting, or living on the Grand Strand.
That includes
- Broadway at the Beach with a Ropes Course, Wonderworks (Science Museum) and Dave and Buster’s
- Barefoot Landing with The House of Blues and Lulu’s
- Hollywood Wax Museum
- 810 Bowling
- Ocean Boulevard
- The Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk
- Brookgreen Gardens
- Myrtle Beach Pelicans
and so much more! Did we mention the golf courses?
4) Love The Grand Strand for Its Nightlife!
When the sun goes down the fun begins.
Fireworks can be seen on many evenings at Broadway at the Beach and/or Barefoot Landing, attracting thousands of visitors to come to eat and play.
Don’t forget to check out Family Kingdom as the fun just begins when the sun disappears! Ride the old wooden coaster ‘The Swamp Fox’ or try your luck playing carnival games.
5) Love The Grand Strand for Its Autism Friendliness!
Did you know…
Surfside Beach is the world’s first certified autism-friendly destination
While it was always known as ‘the family beach’, Surfside Beach now has another beautiful title to uphold. Surfside Beach was listed as one of the Top 10 best family beaches!
6) Love The Grand Strand for Its Beauty!
- Gorgeous homes.
- Beautiful parks.
- Wonderful flowers and native trees.
- Friendly People.
- Sunshine on most days.
The Grand Strand is simply a beautiful place to visit and live.
7) Love The Grand Strand for Its Restaurants!
No matter your taste, there’s a place for you at one of the many tables on the Grand Strand.
While the Grand Strand offers large chain restaurant access like Margaritaville, TGI Fridays, 5 Guys and Friendly’s, there are plenty of spots that less overcrowded and less corporate.
No matter your taste, when living on the Grand Strand you will eat well.
8) Love The Grand Strand for Its Seafood!
Murrells Inlet is called the Seafood Capital of South Carolina!
It wasn’t always as family-friendly as it is today though. In the 1800s, pirates hid in the inlet creeks waiting to plunder unsuspecting English ships. You may have heard of one in particular called Blackbeard.
While you can go fishing, crabbing or even scuba diving, why not lay on the beach all day and come eat seafood at night in one of many restaurants on the Marsh Walk?
9) Love The Grand Strand for Its Southern Hospitality!
“Southern hospitality is a phrase used in American English to describe the stereotype of residents of the Southern United States as particularly warm, sweet, and welcoming to visitors to their homes, or to the South in general.”
And friendly we are!
If you’ve never experienced it, you’ve been missing out.
10) Love The Grand Strand for Its Low Cost of Living!
We simply can’t deny that living on the Grand Strand is… grand! While Strand Security and our family have been residents for 10 years, we’ve realized what a great deal we have here in the south!
Homes are affordable, as are groceries and other living expenses; the cost of living in South Carolina due to low taxes is a huge attraction for new residents. The lure of these beautiful yet affordable southern homes brings many northerners to our beloved Grand Strand.
What Do You Love About the Grand Strand?
Please tell us why you love the Grand Strand!
Keep an eye out for many more ’10 Reasons To Love…’ articles in 2020!
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