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May 2022 started out with National Hurricane Preparedness Week! If you follow us (Strand Security) on Social Media, you’ve seen some of the posts.
We want to make sure that our blog readers are prepared as well.
FACT: The Atlantic Hurricane season runs from June 1-November 30.
Preparation for this Atlantic Hurricane Season, which is our season here in South Carolina, should start in May! Especially during this post-pandemic time with shipping issues and delays, getting your hands on supplies might become a challenging task.
Pricing and availability of hurricane supplies are at a all-time premium.
According to NOAA, Hurricane preparedness needs to start in May. Being prepared for disaster can mean the difference between life and death.
Here are the things to start working on TODAY!
Before a storm hits, trim trees, secure loose outdoor items and store inside a garage or home, secure all doors, cover windows and move your vehicles indoors, or to another safe location.
Know what is covered, and what is not. This is of utmost importance if you live in an active hurricane zone like we do in South Carolina! First thing to do is to call your insurance agent, ak about whether you need flood insurance and get copies made of your insurance policies to add to your evacuation kit!
Whether you are brand new to the neighborhood, or you’ve lived there for decades, make a plan to check in with your neighbors. Not everyone has the funds or capability to evacuate. Make an emergency plan with your neighbors and keep in touch before, during and after the storm!
Learn where and when to evacuate! When it’s time to put a plan in motion, it’s too late to prepare! YOu will need to have all your ‘ducks in a row’ before the first named storm is headed your way! Hurricane supplies should be stocked in your home, a plan for evacuation should include a plan for your pets! (Search for pet-friendly hotels! We love the Best Western and Red Roof Inn chains as most will allow you to bring your pets. Be sure to check with each hotel about their pet policy)
Know when to evacuate and when it’s safe to stay! Evaluate your risk for all things hurricane! We highly recommend you listen to your local news stations for the most updated information about evacuation!
last but not least, this supply list should be an ongoing list! Try to get these supplies now, as it might take a while to gather all that’s needed for the next storm. We know from experience that there will be a run on
Don’t get caught without the necessary supplies to stick it out at home!
If you can stay, stay! If you are asked to evacuate or seek shelter, please listen to the local authorities!
How can you prepare your home for the next hurricane?
Smarthome solutions like security cameras, remote locks, thermostats settings, water sensors and more can help you monitor what’s going on at home, even if you have to evacuate!
Come talk with us now and we will gladly help you prepare, whether this is your first ever hurricane season in South Carolina, or your 25th! We are here to offer support, advice and installation.
School is back! Schools in the Myrtle Beach area go back on August 17!
Those big yellow school buses will be rolling back out of storage where most of them have been all summer, and the roads will be filled with not just these buses, but also with many young, new drivers!
Road safety and school bus safety is just one piece of the larger puzzle of keeping your kids safe and secure as school starts back up!
What does it take to keep your kids, your family safe as they go back to school?
Planning! This article will give you guidelines for putting together a back-to-school family safety plan!
The first thing to remember is that going back to school means new routines.
Maybe your child’s mode of transportation has changed, s/he is attending a new school, has a new carpool or babysitter, or maybe you moved and have a completely new routine to establish.
Whatever the case may be, it’s important to write down new routines and make sure everyone in the family is on the same page! That means going over the new transportation plan as a family – during a family meeting, and making a backup plan for when things change!
Next, going back to school will bring new friends. That’s an exciting part of growing up: creating new friendships with classmates. This is also the time to keep repeating conversations about what to expect when visiting friends’ home. Talk about gun ownership, bullying, and other things that might happen. If you child is too young for a cell phone, make sure s/he knows your phone number, and be sure to meet the parents and be straight about what you expect. “If you go on the boat, I expect my child to wear a lifejacket at all times.” Your child should know these same ‘rules’ and be expected to adhere to them.
At the same time, when your child brings a new friend to your home, you as a family need to include that person in your family safety plan. Explain the pool safety rules, riding bikes rules etc. Don’t expect your child’s friends to stick to your rules: most likely you will have to reinforce them over and over until they’ve visited a few times. Your responsibility for your child’s new friend includes riding in your car, water safety etc.
This is a family matter – keeping friends safe at your home – so adding it to your family safety plan is important!
We also know from personal experience, that as your children grow, new after-school activities are added to their calendars. That means new buildings, new sports complexes, new car pools, new coaches and teammates. You certainly will want to add all this information and expectations toy our family safety plan!
Know who will pick up, drop off, how to reach the new coaches, new tutors, new babysitter!
Last but not least, back-to-school in South Carolina means going back to school during an active hurricane season! Your family safety plan needs to include reference to your hurricane prep plan! Be aware of supplies you might need to purchase now, a generator that might need to be serviced and links to your school districts email and social media platforms as you need to keep an ear out for important hurricane related announcements!
Failing to create a plan, is planning to fail!
Writing down a plan gives you peace of mind and less stress as you navigate the new school year ahead! With as many chances as we’ve seen in the last 18 months, it’s fair to assume more changes and adjustments are on the horizon! Planning and anticipating what’s next can help you alleviate stress and worries. Being prepared for whatever comes at you will accomplish many goals, one is staying safe and secure at home!
Stay safe and secure this fall, and give us a call if we can help you accomplish this in any way!
The 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 until November 30, 2021. NOAA predicts this will be yet another active hurricane season.
From NOAA:
“Now is the time for communities along the coastline as well as inland to get prepared for the dangers that hurricanes can bring,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “The experts at NOAA are poised to deliver life-saving early warnings and forecasts to communities, which will also help minimize the economic impacts of storms.”
As we are coming out of a Pandemic, life as we knew it is no more. Many of us are now working from home, requiring internet access to work. this means that while you may want to “ride out a hurricane at home” as you’ve done previously, this time around you will need to evacuate in order to work because of that needed access to electricity and Wifi!
NOTE: renting a car is nearly impossible these day – to find one available, or to find one that’s affordable. This is a result of a global chip shortage that has disrupted auto production.
We found this article by consumer reports to be helpful in finding ways to rent a car, but in case of a hurricane headed your way, you will NEED to have secured transportation before hand!
While cars are hard to find (to rent OR buy) there is a shortage of other supplies as well, leading to soaring prices. Wood is another hot commodity that’s become up to 3x the price.
If you do not have hurricane shutters, or leftover plywood from previous hurricane prep, NOW is the time to get that wood! While it’s expensive now, it will be more expensive and nearly impossible to find once a hurricane approaches the Grand Strand.
Want to keep an eye on you home, your cars, your business, your boat?
Smarthome technology will let you keep an eye in-real-time on what you leave behind when you evacuate. Get your loved ones out of the way of a hurricane and keep yourself abreast of what’s going on at home!
In 2020/2021 so many of us have moved and so many new residents have come to live in the Myrtle Beach & Grand Strand area.
If you are new to this area and have never had to prep for a hurricane, we want you to know it is imperative you start collecting hurricane supplies now, and write up a hurricane family plan today!
Start here (FREE DOWNLOAD)
No matter what you decide: evacuate or stay, you have to have a detailed plan.
A failure to plan is a plan to fail!
Don’t get caught without a hurricane prep plan.
To stay up-to-date on all thing Atlantic Hurricane Season & Grand Strand Hurricane prep, join our Facebook Group today!
We are here to help you if you need guidance.
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:
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!
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Stay tuned to Strand Security as an updated 2020 South Carolina Hurricane Guide for Homeowners is being worked on right now!
If you live in the southeast, you should have a hurricane emergency plan.
Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 every year and while most hurricanes are active in September and October, a hurricane could develop in the other months.
Hurricane prep for your family, home and business should start now, while the skies are blue and the sun is shining and most people are enjoying the beach.
Doesn’t matter whether you read this in June, July or August – Hurricane prep should be done weeks if not months before a named storm heads your way!
Besides your home and family, your business property will also need looking after during a hurricane.
What steps can you take today, to make that happen and how can you best protect your business property when a hurricane comes to the Grand Strand, or to the place where you reside?
Let’s look at 3 ways you can make an impact today, that will help you secure your business property later!
Much like a family emergency plan, and a hurricane preparation plan for your family, your business needs one as well.
This written plan should layout how to prepare your building for a hurricane, different scenarios depending on the severity and strength of the hurricane, who will be in charge when the hurricane hits, whom to contact after a hurricane (electric company, water company, contractor, insurance agent), your insurance paperwork and suppliers information and other important details you will need, to keep your business afloat in times of inclement weather.
You see, panic sets in once the local news stations merely hint at a possible storm, and supplies will be gone before you know it.
As business owners who’ve lived on the Grand Strand nearly 10 years, we’ve seen a few storms head our way and we’ve seen business owners (as well as local residents) be ill-prepared.
Don’t get caught without a plan!
How scary will it be if you have to evacuate and leave everything you know and love behind?
Super scary! We know first-hand.
However, there are ways you can still keep an eye on your home and business property in case of a storm when you need to hunker down or evacuate; remote monitoring!
We offer this service to monitor your business year-round to
now add
as another reason to get a remote monitoring system installed at your business property!
With this system in place, you can watch in real-time what is happening.
This monitoring becomes vital after a hurricane has come and gone as flooding and looting are two concerns that pop up afterward!
Last but not least, do the following as soon as you can, before any storm hits the Atlantic waters and stirs up the Grand Strand!
We’ve been through several hurricanes since moving to the Grand Strand area from Maryland and each one is as unpredictable as the next.
It’s not just the wind and rain you have to account for, but also flooding afterward!
Come talk to us about hurricane prep!
If a hurricane might be on its way to the Grand Strand and Myrtle Beach area, you’ll be monitoring the weather closely. Local news stations will have the latest updates and will be predicting the path of the hurricane, with limited success, of course.
Those who’ve lived here for years know that nothing is set in stone and that hurricanes can and do often change direction.
Usually, you have about a week before a hurricane has made its way to you from the time of the first warning.
So what is the first thing you need to do when a hurricane is headed your way?
Keep reading and we’ll tell you!
You read that right.
If a hurricane is headed your way, the first thing to do it to activate your emergency and hurricane plan.
What do these look like?
They are written plans which detail many steps to take to get your family to safety and include things like
and much more.
The important part of these plans is that you’ve done your homework BEFORE the threat of a hurricane reaches your area because if you don’t have a plan, and that happens, all bets are off to get supplies.
There will be an instantaneous shortage of sandbags, generators and hotel rooms, just a few things that are essential to having a safe and affordable hurricane plan.
Just a friendly tip; amazon sells sandbags and other hurricane supplies, so may we suggest you order items now, right now, and tuck those away for later?
Things to buy now, and tuck away in your hurricane supply kit include
Every local outlet will be scrambling to have as many of these supplies on hand as possible, but each time a hurricane heads this way we hear of people missing out on sandbags and other items on this list as the supply lines dry up quickly.
Amazon and online purchasing should be done before the threat of a hurricane because supply lines will close for everyone.
Order now, don’t delay.
If after a few days the weather pattern holds steady and it does look like a hurricane will make landfall or impact on the Grand Strand, or the area where you live, you will need to do many more things to get ready.
As a homeowner vs renter, you are the sole person in charge of your property. You will either need to hire someone to board up your house, or you will need to do it yourself. If you’d made a hurricane and family emergency plan, you will be all set and have these boards cut to size in your garage or storage shed waiting for you to board up your home.
If you failed to plan for this possibility, you will be hard-pressed to find boards at any home improvement store!
The Grand Strand is growing! Over 1400 people are moving to our area every single month. Many are arriving here form places that don’t ever see hurricanes so there are a lot of people who do not know how to prepare.
We’ve created the 2019 South Carolina Hurricane Guide for Homeowners.
Please read, download and share! Tag a friend and prepare, just in case. It’s heartbreaking to see people panicked, afraid and just unprepared to either hunker down or evacuate without a plan and supplies. Being ill-prepared could cost them their lives.
Your safety is our business.
Believe it or not, the 2019 Hurricane season is right around the corner!
The 2019 hurricane season runs from June 1 – November 30, 2019.
How prepared were you last year and how prepared are you for an active Hurricane Season?
This week is Hurricane Preparedness Week 2019!
Here are the steps we suggest you take to prepare for the 2019 Hurricane Season
We suggest you
How do you do that?
We’ve got you covered.
Download our FREE Hurricane Guide for Homeowners today!
Download this FREE 2019 South Carolina Hurricane Guide for Homeowners now, to be prepared when the first hurricane of the 2019 season heads toward the coast of South Carolina.
With over 1400 new residents moving to the Grand Strand each month, there will be many questions from new residents about how to prepare.
The threats from hurricanes to you and your family can vary widely depending on where you live in South Carolina. It’s not just those along the coast of our state that can experience significant, life-threatening impacts. Evaluate what you need to do to protect your home and family today, before the first storm of the season even forms in the Atlantic Ocean.
Make sure you have a hurricane evacuation plan for your family. The first thing you need to do is find out if you live in a storm surge hurricane evacuation zone or if you’re in a home that would be unsafe during a hurricane. If you are, figure out where you’d go and how you’d get there if told to evacuate. You do not need to travel hundreds of miles. Identify someone, perhaps a friend or relative who doesn’t live in an evacuation zone or unsafe home, and coordinate with them to use their home as your evacuation destination. Be sure to account for your pets, as most local shelters do not permit them. There are some pet-friendly hotels who will allow you to bring your pets. Know which ones they are so you can book a stay in those! Put the plan in writing for you and those you care about.
Just having enough supplies to make it through a hurricane isn’t enough. You need plenty to make it through what could be a LONG recovery period too. Water and electricity could be out for a week or more. Have enough non-perishable food, water and medicine to last each person in your family for a minimum of one week. Also make sure you have extra cash, a battery-powered radio, flashlights, and a portable crank or solar powered USB charger to charge your cell phone. Having lived through several hurricanes already, we at Strand Security know the importance of preparedness and how quickly supplies dwindle.
Don’t delay. Get your supplies, including a generator now.
We encourage you to call your insurance company or agent and ask for an insurance checkup to make sure you have enough homeowners insurance to repair or even replace your home. …and remember, standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding. Whether you’re a homeowner or renter, you’ll need a separate policy for flooding. Act now as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period. Don’t forget to give us at Strand Security a call as well! You will want to know how to access your system remotely in case of an evacuation, and you’ll need a back-up battery.
If you plan to ride out a hurricane in your home, make sure it is in good repair and up to local hurricane building code specifications. Have the proper plywood, steel or aluminum panels to board up the windows and doors. Remember, the garage door is the most vulnerable part of the home, so it must be able to withstand high winds.
Many Americans rely on their neighbors after a disaster, but there are also many ways you can help your neighbors before a hurricane approaches. Ask your neighbors about their evacuation plans so that you can stay in contact during the storm. In case of a fire, downed trees, flooding or loss of power, it’s essential you can reach your direct neighbors.
The time to prepare for a hurricane is today before the season begins on June 1. Once you’re under pressure, having an actionable plan will take the guesswork out of what you need to do to protect you, your business, your pets and your family.
Know where you will ride out the storm and get your supplies now. You don’t want to be standing in long lines when a Hurricane Watch is issued. Those supplies that you need will probably be sold out by the time you reach the front of the line.
Being prepared now will mean the difference between your being a hurricane victim and a hurricane survivor.
We are three weeks into the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
Are you prepared?
Have you prepared yourself, your family, your home, your business for a hurricane, should one head our way?
More often than not, those who live in coastal areas along the Grand Strand will wait until a hurricane has been named and is headed towards South Carolina before starting their hurricane prep and unfortunately, it can be too late to get certain prep done that late in the game!
Instead, get started on your hurricane kit before the end of this month and stay ahead, alert and prepared!
There are two major purchases to consider if you are new to the south and to hurricane preparedness.
The first purchase is a generator.
If you are wondering who should purchase a generator for hurricane season, here is our take on this!
If you fall into any of these categories, you should consider purchasing a generator this season. Keep an eye out for sales and specials; often this type of equipment can be found on sale either during a 4t of July sale or Labor Day sales event.
The second important purchase is insurance.
This could include homeowners insurance, renters insurance, flood insurance and/or wind and hail insurance, depending on where you live and whether you own your home or rent it.
Of course, if you are traveling to a coastal area during hurricane season, you also might want to look into travel insurance!
If you were to talk to 100 local residents about hurricane prep, you will get 100 opinions!
Do you need to prep for hurricanes as early as June?
No, you don’t have to, but we suggest you better not get caught unprepared later in the season. Peace of mind counts for a lot.
If you have dependents; a spouse, small children, elderly parents or pets, it is even more important to prepare for a hurricane season well in advance of any named storm headed to the Grand Strand.
According to the National Weather Service
CSU calls for another busy season with a total of 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes
This is slightly above average and makes us at Strand Security even more glad we’ve published an amazing resource for our local residents.
Grab your FREE COPY of the 2018 South Carolina Hurricane Prep Guide for Homeowners today.
Welcome to the South! If you are new to South Carolina or North Carolina and this is your first summer in the south, you might be new to the Atlantic Hurricane season as well.
The Myrtle Beach area, where Strand Security is located, is a fast-growing area. New housing developments are popping out of the ground like mushrooms and new roads, intersections and schools are constructed so fast it’s hard to keep up with!
Many of the new residents to the Grand Strand are moving here from ‘up North’ as we locals say. That means that many new residents are unfamiliar with hurricane season, hurricane prep and hurricane readiness.
No worries, Strand Security is here to help you navigate hurricane prep!
This coming week is the start of hurricane season in case you didn’t know.
The 2018 hurricane season runs from June 1, 2018, to November 30, 2018.
Hurricane activity has already been spotted and this 2018 hurricane season is expected to more active than usual!
What does that mean? It means that there is a higher chance of a hurricane affecting the Carolinas and thus affecting you, our fellow Grand Strand residents. Fortunately, those who have lived here their whole lives, and those who’ve experienced and lived through hurricanes, are always happy to share their knowledge with those who are new to the area.
Why ‘reinvent the wheel’ when you can learn from past mistakes and triumphs?!
As the hurricane season is usually not too active in June, this is a great time to do your research on what it will take to be ready and prepared for when a hurricane does head towards the Carolinas.
You will need to get a handle on what supplies are needed and when to start collecting a hurricane kit.
Here are 4 things you can start on in June, even if there is no hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean!
Next, start on your plans for evacuations and or staying.
Think about creating hurricane plans for
We have created an amazing resource for you this year!
Check out this FREE DOWNLOADABLE 2018 South Carolina Hurricane Guide for Homeowners!
Why should you think about hurricane prep when there is no hurricane in sight?
Here is why!
As soon as there is a named hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, people panic.
Weather channels will regurgitate information, locals will run to the stores to purchase hurricane supplies and you’ll be overwhelmed with helpful and not-s-helpful hurricane preparedness advice.
Take it from us – do your homework now.
[Not to mention that any insurance policy you’d take out won’t be in effect that close to a natural disaster!]Failing to prepare is preparing to fail!