It's Never Too Early to Prepare for a Hurricane

What do Tobias, Ian, Bonnie, Paula, and Gaston have in common? They’re among the 21 names chosen this year by the World Meteorological Organization as hurricanes for the 2022 season. In case you’re wondering if that’s a lot of names, you’re right. Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are predicting, an above-average hurricane season this year with 14 to 21 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which six to ten could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including three to six major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher).

Last year at this time, we published a blog post that gave you ten tips for weathering a hurricane. These tips included common sense steps you can take to prepare your home in case a major storm knocks your power out. This year’s hurricane post focuses on important proactive steps you can take starting today to prepare your home for hurricane season.

BEFORE STORM SEASON

• Check Your Trees – Are they overgrown? Does the root system look compromised? Is there leaf loss or missing bark? These are all signs that your tree isn’t healthy. Sick trees are particularly vulnerable to high winds and can cause some serious damage. Healthy trees can also cause damage during a hurricane, so be sure to check to make sure that any low-hanging branches over your electrical service line are safely trimmed and removed. This will protect your home as well as your neighbors and can end up heading off a lot of headaches. Legal website Nolo notes that if a tree that you own, or a branch from it, falls as a result of your negligence (for example, an overhanging branch had been dead for years and your neighbors had been complaining about it for nearly as long, but you neglected to have it cut down), you are legally liable.
• Go Digital – Water damage from floods can not only destroy treasured family photos, but they can make important printed documents unreadable when you need to read them most. Buy cloud storage, scan your photos, insurance policies, birth certificates, etc. And if you’re one of those people who has a notebook that has all your passwords handwritten, invest in a digital password manager. Cybernews recommends these ten services.
• Invest in New Outlets – GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) outlets aren’t just for bathrooms and kitchens anymore. If you have a basement or your ground floor is in danger of flooding, you should make sure your outlets have GFCIs. They are literally lifesaving.
• Get a Home Electrical Inspection – In January, we suggested that homeowners start 2022 with an electrical health check. If you haven’t followed this advice, what are you waiting for? It’s vital to have your electrical panel that is regularly checked and up to the current code. This is especially true if you live in an older home. Water is a sneaky thing. You may not notice damage immediately after a storm, but tiny leaks can potentially invade your electrical panel which can cause all sorts of damage.
• Keep Our Number Handy – A phone number is one of the most important tools in your home safety arsenal. For the wellbeing of your family and neighbors, anything involving electrical work in New York City should be performed by a licensed general electrician. That’s why if you’re in need of an experienced NYC electrician, always keep PK & Altman Electric’s phone number handy.

PK & Altman Electric’s service area includes Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and the greater New York City metropolitan area. If you’re a homeowner or property manager with business or residential properties, you can still rely on the pros you know at PK & Altman to be onsite to address any emergency electrical issues on short notice. That includes midnight calls and weekends.

Our skilled licensed emergency electricians are ready to handle any form of electrical emergency. No matter the time of day, if you need help with an electrical problem, call (646) 362-8714 and we will get there right away.

PK Electric NYC: Your Trusted Electrical Contractors

As a leading electrical contractor in NYC, PK Electric is here to help you prepare for hurricane season. We understand the importance of safety and the need for emergency electrical services during these challenging times. Our team of experienced electricians specializes in addressing electrical violations, ensuring compliance with regulations. From residential to commercial projects, we provide comprehensive electrical services, including emergency repairs. When storms strike, trust PK Electric NYC to safeguard your property and restore power quickly. Don’t wait until it’s too late – Contact us today to fortify your electrical system and secure peace of mind.