With hurricane season and summer vacations upon us, it would be prudent to discuss ways to protect your property and valuables. Use multiples timers to turn lights on and off in your house to give the appearance you are home. Make sure all your windows and doors are locked including screened in areas. Shuttering is a highly recommended, as well as turning off water and gas service. Notify your post office and newspaper circulation departments to hold your mail and newspaper until you return. If you alert our security personnel that you will be gone, we can keep a watch on your home when we are on our patrols, and an even closer exterior inspection will be made. Forms for this service are available at the gates and you can list any contact information you want us to have in the event we need to contact you concerning conditions at your property. We were blessed with a relatively mild season in 2008 and this season is predicted as “average”.
According to Colorado State University’s most recent recent forcast of June 2, 2008, they are predicting eleven (11) named storms, five (5) hurricanes and two (2) major storms. But as in the real estate profession the mantra here is location! location! and location!! It only matters to us where the storms hit. If only one storm of strength makes land fall near us, that’s enough and we need to be as prepared as we can.
Wackenhut security at PGA National is fully prepared with a complete site hurricane plan along with volunteers from our staff to man the critical posts and render whatever assistance might be needed. We already know who those volunteers are and they will be right with you and your property, before, during and after the storm. We will be working hand in hand with the individual communities, the POA, and emergency services to get everything back to normal as quickly as possible.
When a storm threatens make sure you gather all the loose items you can i.e.: trash cans, lawn ornaments, wind chimes, bicycles, and anything else that might fly around. Think of projectiles in strong winds and rain. That will be motivation enough to pick everything up. Remember, a hurricane can hurl a brick right through a piece of ¾ inch plywood in a category 3 or 4 storm! Tie down anything you can’t bring. Of course you want to have already prepared an emergency supply kit containing a portable radio or TV, flashlights, spare batteries and, of course, your own personal emergency plan.
Whether it’s a short vacation or the hurricane season being considered, planning is required for both. With only a little time and effort a lot of heartache can be avoided. In both instances security and your community are there to help. You only have to ask.