Category: Disaster Preparation
Lightning Beware
June 21, 2019
We have been taught since we were children that lightning strikes the tallest object. It is no wonder then, that lightning is one of the most common natural causes of tree damage. Lightning is formed when negative charged ions ... READ MORE
Category: Disaster Preparation, Home Landscapes, HorticultureTags: Lightning, Storm Damage, Trees
Early Hurricane Prep
June 20, 2019
If you prepare for a hurricane when a hurricane is approaching, you will find yourself panicking: can I take time off from work to prepare my home? Are there any other stores in the area that might have batteries and water left? Is the shelter ... READ MORE
Category: Disaster Preparation, Work & LifeTags: Hurricane, Items, Kit, Prepare
Closing up your Florida home: security considerations
May 17, 2019
In our final post to this six-part series, we will provide some security considerations as you prepare your home for an extended stay away. Whether you are leaving for a month or several months, you want to protect your home from intruders. ... READ MORE
Category: Disaster Preparation, Home ManagementTags: Absence, Close, Disaster, Home, Pgm_FCS, Preparation, Security, Storm, StormPrep
Preparing Your Landscape for Hurricane Season
May 13, 2019
Hurricane season starts June 1st. You are probably aware of preparations you need to make inside the home, but what do you need to do in your landscape? Survey your property now and look for things that may be an issue such as: Flooding ... READ MORE
Category: Disaster Preparation, Home LandscapesTags: Anne Yasalonis, Ayasalonis, Hurricane, Hurricane Prep, Hurricane Preparedness, Master Gardener, Master Gardener Volunteer, Polk County, Polkgardening, Polkmg, Pruning, Trees
Hurricane Prep: Securing Your Boat
May 5, 2019
Hurricanes are incredibly violent storms that can bring intense winds, heavy rain, floods, storm surge, landslides, tornadoes, and coastal erosion. These storms are capable of causing incredible damage, and the key to protecting your boat is ... READ MORE
Category: Disaster Preparation, Home Management, Natural ResourcesTags: Boating, Disaster, Hurricane, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Preparation, Hurricane Preparedness, Paxton Evans, Shannon Carnevale, Storm
Closing up your Florida home: air conditioning, windows and doors
May 3, 2019
This is the fifth blog post in our six-part series on how to prepare your Florida home if you'll be away for an extended time. In this post, we will review air conditioning considerations, as well as our what to look out for with windows and ... READ MORE
Category: Disaster Preparation, Home ManagementTags: Absence, Air Conditioning, Close, Disaster, Door, Home, Pgm_FCS, Preparation, Storm, StormPrep, Window
Closing up your Florida home: bedrooms and beyond
April 19, 2019
This is the fourth post in our six-part series on how to prepare your Florida home if you'll be away for an extended time. We've talked previously about what procedures to follow for the kitchen and bath areas. In this post, we'll look at ... READ MORE
Category: Disaster Preparation, Home ManagementTags: Absence, Bedroom, Close, Disaster, Garage, Home, Lanai, Pgm_FCS, Preparation, Storm, StormPrep
EVENT: Preparing for the storm
April 16, 2019
Hurricane season is fast approaching, and now is the time to get ready. Whether you're a long-time resident or someone new to the area, our free, one-hour "Hurricane Preparedness" class will help you brace for the June-November storm season. ... READ MORE
Category: Disaster Preparation, Events, Work & LifeTags: Disaster, Event, Hurricane, Pgm_FCS, Prep, Preparedness, Ready, Safety, Storm, StormPrep
Closing up your Florida home: laundry and bath
April 5, 2019
In our last blog post, we talked about how to prevent mildew and pests in our kitchen area. In this post, the third in a six-part series, we will discuss the laundry and bathroom areas. Laundry Turn off the water supply to the washing ... READ MORE
Category: Disaster Preparation, Home ManagementTags: Absence, Bath, Close, Disaster, Home, Laundry, Pgm_FCS, Preparation, Storm, StormPrep