As Hurricane Delta continues to increase in intensity as a Category 4 hurricane, residents of the Pensacola area who are still recovering from Hurricane Sally should be prepared to seek a shelter elsewhere, as there is little hope of completing the major repairs that are needed to make their home safe
Rob Zimmerman, a 17-year-old contractor and chairman of Emerald Coast Constructors, told the News Journal on Monday that nearly all licensed and insured contractors in the area were already overbooked due to Hurricane Sally
Zimmerman said he is telling his clients who have suffered flood damage to stop working on drywall or drywall for the time being, as the storm could set back progress already made.
#Delta has ramped up 70 mph (40 mph to 110 mph) in its first 24 hours since becoming a named storm This is the strongest intensification over a 24-hour period for a storm called the October Atlantic since Wilma in 2005 #hurricane picTwittercom / Dc5EkZpFSj
He also said those who damaged their home’s « envelope » – like holes in roofs or walls, or blown-out windows – that can’t be fixed by Friday should move on. ‘before and seek shelter elsewhere
Hello, Cat 4: Updates: Hurricane Delta is rapidly strengthening into a Category 4 storm with winds of 130 mph
“Think of it this way: if a person already has a damaged house, their house envelope is not secure,” Zimmerman said “Whenever strong winds blow, it creates pressure negative, so if you have everything in the envelope, your house can depressurize quickly and can literally be destroyed »
Zimmerman said it’s a good idea to charge all power tools in advance, like chainsaws or drills, before the storm hits in the event of a power failure. Also have basic building materials on hand like nails, 2 by 4 plywood and extra tarps to secure dangerous situations immediately after the storm
In 17 years, Zimmerman said he had never had consecutive storms within three weeks of each other, and that he was « very nervous » about the direction of the storm
“I imagine a lot of people are pressing the panic button right now,” he said “The most important thing is to take the most basic steps: make sure all your vehicles are full. , that you have food and water, and that all your medicines and everything are at hand «
Scott McCartney, vice president of First Choice Home Improvement at Pensacola, said the first priority of homeowners or tenants should tackle anything else before the storm debris removal If you have piles of debris in your drive and can’t pick them up or move them before the storm hits, gather them all into one big pile and cover them with a tarp before the storm hits
“Try to isolate it so that everything stays together and doesn’t turn into projectiles,” he said “Put a tarp over it and throw heavy things to help hold it in place, and try to keep everything in a ball in one area instead of just small piles everywhere »
A list of drop-off sites: Debris removal: where to bring your debris in Escambia, Santa Rosa Counties
The second priority should be the roof – if you have holes in your roof, make sure the tarps are properly secured by nailing the tarps into the roof planks instead of nailing the traps directly into the roof itself – even
And if you can’t find tarps, you can use modified roofing supplies, like felt sold at hardware and lumber stores, McCartney said
All panels such as corrugated screens, plywood or any type of window protection should be installed at least three days before the storm to give you ample time to ensure it is secure when the winds start to get up
When it comes to flooding, there’s not much you can do to prepare other than stack as many sandbags as possible, McCartney said
« Try to get some sandbags to protect the immediate part of your house, like around doors, » he says
Sally by the Numbers: Hurricane Sally by the Numbers: 2 feet of rain, 92 mph winds and a 5 foot storm surge
McCartney said if your home hadn’t been inspected properly by licensed contractors after Sally, there could be hidden damage on the exterior of your home that is not visible to the naked eye or without training
It’s best to be safe and evacuate if you haven’t been inspected or have any damage that still hasn’t been repaired.It’s also good to evacuate if you have trees around your house that survived Sally
« Because we had saturated soils, the trees were already loosened by the previous hurricane, so that’s what you need to be very careful about, » he said.
McCartney said in his experience, it’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared – something many people learned the hard way during Hurricane Sally
« Brace yourself and brace yourself today, a lot of people were caught off guard a few weeks ago, » he said « Listening to the news and everything is great but the storms are so unpredictable Even if he’s not supposed to come here, prepare as if he’s coming here «
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Tropical Cyclone, Baldwin County
World News – United States – Hurricane Delta: Load Up Your Tools, Fix Roof Holes, and Go If Your Home Isn’t safe
