Preparing for Tropical Storm Isaias
There’s always so much to do before a big storm.
Yesterday, the region was hit by tropical storm Isaias. The storm brought heavy rains and high winds, but before it hit, my outdoor grounds crew worked tirelessly to ensure everything was in order - that all the drains, catch basins, and gutters were clear, the air conditioner pits were clean, all the doors and windows were secure, and all the animals were safely tucked away in their shelters. It's very important to be well-prepared for any big storm system - additional tips include: knowing where all the flashlights are kept and making sure they are equipped with fresh batteries, stocking the first aid kit, and checking that all vehicles are filled with gas.
Here are some photos.
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- The day started with overcast skies. We got some rain the night before, but Isaias was expected to bring damaging winds, flooding rains, and destructive tornadoes to coastal areas. Flooding and high winds can cause damage to any property, so it’s always good, and smart, to be well-prepared.
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- This is my soccer lawn where my grandson, Truman, loves to play when he visits. Before this week, everything was very dry. The lawns and gardens needed a good rain.
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- Chhiring loads up our trusted Kubota model M7060HD12 tractor with about a dozen bales of hay – all grown and baled right here at my farm. The bales will help direct the rain water to the appropriate drains.
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- Here’s Chhiring positioning one of the bales on the carriage road outside my carport. During strong rain storms, the water runoff sometimes washes the gravel off the driveway and onto the grassy areas.
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- Chhiring uses two bales to ensure the water goes directly into the drain.
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- Meanwhile, Phurba checks all the gutters and downspouts of all the outbuildings.
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- Gutters are designed to control the flow of water around the home. Keeping them clear prevents water back-up and moisture damage to the wood, fascia and foundation.
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- Some of the gutters had already collected some litter from the trees, such as leaves, twigs and pine needles. Domi went around and manually removed the debris. Using a ladder and looking into all the gutters allowed him to also check that joints and seams were well-connected and sealed.
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- This is what the gutters should look like – especially before a big storm.
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- My catch basins are covered with bluestone caps. The grated drain openings are on the sides. If you have catch basins or storm drains on or near your home’s property, be sure they are also checked and cleaned before a storm.
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- The grates collect debris, leaves, and other objects that are moved by flowing water. Keeping them clean prevents water logging and ponding on your property and on nearby roads. This one in front of my greenhouse is a little blocked with gravel from the carriage road.
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- Chhiring removes the gravel from in front of the opening, so water can flow freely to the drain.
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- Here, Chhiring rakes out some of the debris that has blocked this drain near my front gate.
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- Chhiring carries a another bale of hay and drops it strategically where rain runoff may cause damage to the lawns and garden beds at the Pin Oak Allee.
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- Here’s another bale near one end of the Boxwood Allee. These bales of hay do a great job at directing the water runoff, but large stones can also help.
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- To keep my air-conditioning units from looking unsightly, they are housed in “pits”, or below ground-level spaces, covered with metal grates. These pits are also checked and cleaned.
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- A large air-conditioner pit, such as this one, is located behind every house. They are just deep enough for the units to be stored. Making sure drains in these pits are clear will prevent the equipment from water damage.
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- Phurba manually clears the drain of any leaves or other debris that may have fallen into the pit and onto the drain. The entire area is also swept clean.
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- By early afternoon, more clouds roll in. The skies are more gray and ominous.
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- The rain soon followed. Here is a view from my terrace parterre looking out onto the paddocks.
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- And then the winds picked up. My weeping willow trees are swaying. The winds were expected to reach 35-miles-per-hour. Thankfully, everything is in place – we’ve battened down the hatches. If your home was in the storm’s path, I hope you were also well-prepared. I’ll share “after” storm photos in another blog.
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