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June is the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season which means the increased likelihood of severe weather impacting your area. It’s never a bad idea to stay ahead of the threat of potential hurricanes and make sure you and your family are prepared.

So what can you do to make sure you’re well prepared to deal with a hurricane should it come knocking on your door?

1. Make an Emergency Plan.

Always make sure that you have a contingency plan set in place, especially if you live in a low lying area close to water. Hurricanes are fast moving storms, so always be prepared to move to higher ground. Planning a route to evacuate your neighborhood in the event of a storm is a great starting point.

2. Ensure That Your Generator Is Running Smoothly.

If you’re planning on hunkering down and weathering the storm, the first thing you should do is check to make sure all of your electrical outlets have been properly maintained and your generator has been recently serviced.

3. Create an Emergency Tool Kit.

If you’re choosing to weather the storm at home, then you should prepare an emergency tool kit. This kit should include the essentials:

• Batteries
• Battery powered flashlights/ chargers
• Battery powered radio
• A first aid kit
• Bottled water

You should also make sure your phones are fully charged before the storm hits. Strong winds and falling trees will almost always be the cause of power outages, so it’s a good idea to make sure everything is fully charged in case you do lose power.

4. Electrical Panel Is Updated and Branches Clear From the Service Line.

It’s important to have your electrical panel routinely checked and brought up to current code, especially in older homes. Small leaks can funnel right into your electrical panel which can become extremely dangerous and also cause all sorts of damage. Low hanging branches over your electrical service line should also be safely trimmed and removed.

5. Do Not Stand in Flood Water

No matter if your home is wet or dry, standing in flood water can be incredibly dangerous. Debris in the water or a fast moving current could knock you off your feet. An even bigger risk is the possibility of down electrical wires that are still active. Active electrical wires are dangerous and could cause a fatal incident when wires are down in flood areas.

You never know when the next big storm may hit, so it’s a good idea to make sure that your home is up to date with generator and electrical servicing. Never go into hurricane season feeling unprepared and, of course, give Esposito’s Electric a call at 973-366-9902 if we can be of service.