How To Prepare Your Home For Protecting Keepsakes During Storm Surges

Published on: 30 December 2024 Last Updated on: 31 December 2024

When you live in a storm surge-prone area like New Orleans, the safety of your home and cherished belongings is always a concern.

The city’s proximity to water makes it particularly vulnerable to extreme weather, including hurricanes and the accompanying storm surges. However, protecting keepsakes during storm surges is a major issue.

In this article, you will learn why how to protect your keepsakes during storm surges. Here, you will get five useful tips that are easy to follow.

However, before that, you will learn a few details about storm surges and what to do in such situations. Hence, to learn more, read on to the end of the article.

Staying Prepared Before Storm Surges

Generally, storm surges affect your building’s foundations. This happens due to high water piling because of tropical cyclones, which results in constant agitation in the building.

With time, it can result in complete demolition of homes and commercial buildings. Moreover, if the storm is bad enough, you need to evacuate and move inland for safety.

In such cases, you have to plan ahead for such possibilities. However, to save your valuables, you can keep large rubber storage containers. In those containers, you have to place your photos and mementos. This will help you take them while you evacuate the place.

Apart from that, you must have extra plastic storage containers to gather jewelry, mementos, and other photos. Also, try to place those containers in the attic if you get the news of an upcoming flood.

Additionally, you can also keep your necessary documents in a fire-proof safe. Moreover, check them to ensure that they are water-proof as well. This will prevent water from entering the safe it the building submerges in a flood.

On the other hand, you must also shut off your electricity at the circuit brakes. This will help your appliances from short circuits.

5 Tips For Protecting Keepsakes During Storm Surges

While securing your property is essential, safeguarding your irreplaceable keepsakes—like family photos, heirlooms, and old home movies—requires proactive steps.

The following are some essential tips for protecting keepsakes during storm surges:

1. Identify Valuable Keepsakes

The first step in protecting keepsakes during storm surges is to identify which items hold the most sentimental or practical value. For instance, family photos, handwritten letters, heirlooms, home videos, and important documents often top the list.

Generally, in New Orleans, homes may face repeated flooding risks. Hence, creating an inventory of these items ensures you know what to prioritize.

Therefore, you must take time to review albums, VHS tapes, film reels, and other family treasures. Moreover, once you identify your most valuable keepsakes, it becomes easier to plan their protection.

2. Store Keepsakes In Waterproof Containers

Generally, storm surges bring a high risk of water damage. Hence, you must always store your keepsakes in waterproof containers. Use sealed plastic bins, waterproof bags, or specialized storage boxes for delicate items like photographs and letters.

However, if you need extra protection, consider fireproof and waterproof safes to shield irreplaceable items from both water and heat.

For instance, in a flood-prone city like New Orleans, it’s important to seal containers properly. Also, store them away from low-lying areas.

3. Elevate Keepsakes Above Flood-Prone Areas

Elevation is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your keepsakes. In a city with a history of flooding, storing items in basements or on ground floors is risky. Instead, place keepsakes on higher shelves, upper floors, or in attics well above expected flood levels.

In fact, for long-term storage, elevated cabinets or specially designed storage units can provide peace of mind. Basically, they will prevent water damage during high-water events.

4. Digitize Important Items

One of the most effective ways to protect family memories is by digitizing them. For instance, you can scan photos and documents. Then, you must covert old VHS tapes or film reels. Thereby, you can create digital backups that can’t be harmed by water or storms.

I live in New Orleans, and using local digitization companies was a smart choice for me. Actually, these professionals understand the importance of preserving family memories in a city with a high risk of natural disasters.

Whether you need high-quality scanning for photos or video conversion services, these companies can help digitize your most treasured items while handling them with care.

In fact, once you digitize your files, you can store them securely in cloud storage. As a result, you can ensure they are accessible. Apart from that, you can protect them even if you lose the originals.

5. Create An Emergency Evacuation Plan

In the event of a major storm, you must have a clear evacuation plan. Moreover, you must include your most important keepsakes in your plan, both physical and digital.

Also, prepare a “go bag” with waterproof containers for physical items. Make sure to have a USB drive or external hard drive containing your new digital files.

Actually, if you prepare in advance, you can quickly grab what’s most important. Thereby, you can ensure your irreplaceable memories are safe. Additionally, cloud-stored backups of digitized items allow you to access them from anywhere. This helps even if you are displaced for an extended period.

Conclusion

If you follow these tips, protecting keepsakes during storm surges in New Orleans will not be a big problem. Basically, New Orleans has a unique geography and vulnerability to storm surges. Hence, protecting keepsakes is a critical part of disaster preparation.

Hence, start by identifying your valuable items. Then, store them securely in waterproof and elevated locations. After that, digitize them for long-term preservation. This way, by planning for emergencies, you can safeguard your cherished memories.

Don’t wait until a storm is approaching to take action. Start digitizing your family photos, videos, and documents today to ensure your memories are preserved and protected for generations to come. Preparing now means peace of mind later, no matter what the weather brings.

Do you have more suggestions for protecting keepsakes during storm surges? Please share your ideas and opinions in the comments section below.

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Ankita Tripathy

Ankita Tripathy loves to write about food and the Hallyu Wave in particular. During her free time, she enjoys looking at the sky or reading books while sipping a cup of hot coffee. Her favourite niches are food, music, lifestyle, travel, and Korean Pop music and drama.

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Disinfection and Cleaning Strategies for Reopening Commercial Buildings

Cleaning and Disinfection have never been more important than amid the COVID-19 pandemic. And, with quarantine restrictions beginning to loosen, many businesses that were shuttered during lockdown will start resuming operations. As this happens, the biggest challenge for commercial building owners is being able and ready to return buildings to use swiftly and safely. Reducing the risk of exposure by cleaning and disinfecting is an integral part of reopening commercial buildings as the safety of occupants remains a key priority. With this rising demand for clean environments, commercial buildings will have to come up with safe and effective cleaning strategies that will assure occupants of their safety even as the threat of the virus continues to linger in our minds. With so much uncertainty surrounding the spread of the coronavirus and how people can protect against it, it's not worth it to take any risks. You can find professional cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting services at www.excelpestservices.com. Cleaning and disinfecting commercial buildings for reopening will involve developing a plan, implementing the plan, as well as maintaining and revising the plan. Develop Your Disinfection Plan: There's no one-size-fits-all cleaning and disinfection plan as commercial buildings are structured differently and for different purposes. You will need to evaluate your building to determine the surfaces and materials that make up that area. This will guide you in choosing the appropriate cleaning and disinfection method suitable for each. Implement Your Plan: Once you have the right cleaning and disinfection plan for your building, it's time to put it into action. We have mapped out a few key strategies that will help you navigate this issue and ensure optimal cleaning and disinfection service. Without further ado, let's get started: Wear appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment): Whether you are contracting a cleaning service or using in-house janitorial staff, the cleaning crew must wear appropriate PPEs like gloves, masks, goggles, and so on. That's because they are at a higher risk of being exposed to COVID-19 (given that it can stay on surfaces for days) and the toxicity of cleaning/disinfecting products. Not wearing PPEs also means asymptomatic carriers could spread pathogens to clean areas. It's also important for the cleaning crew to receive training on the proper use of PPEs, cleaning equipment, and cleaning products to ensure efficiency. Apply normal routine cleaning on visibly dirty surfaces: It's important to clean surfaces and objects with soap and water before disinfecting. And, be sure to clean soft and porous materials according to the manufacturer's instructions. Determine what you need to disinfect: While some surfaces and materials are cleaned with just soap and water, others must be disinfected. Scientists have proven that coronavirus can also live on various surfaces for up to a couple of days. People can contract it by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching their eyes, mouth, or nose. Start by disinfecting high-touch surfaces as they are the main source of spreading pathogens. This includes doorknobs/handles, elevator buttons, restroom facilities, trash can lids, faucet handles, floor surfaces, light switches, tables/countertops/desks, handrails, and so on. Additionally, areas unique to your building may also require disinfecting. For instance, retail occupancy will require disinfecting shopping cart handles and payment touchpads while offices will need to disinfect computer monitors, keyboards, conference tables, etc. Soft and porous materials in high-traffic areas like carpets, upholstery, and curtains can be germ reservoirs and will need to be disinfected as well. Use EPA-Approved cleaning/disinfectant products: Not all cleaning products are suitable for removing pathogens, particularly traces of COVID-19, from building surfaces. It's important to look at EPA's suggested products as they are both effective and non-toxic. If EPA-approved disinfectants are not available, you can use a diluted solution of household bleach or 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA). Use products effectively: It's important to follow the directions on the label with regards to the application method (concentration and dilution), contact time, as well as any other precautions to take when applying like good ventilation and appropriate PPE to wear. This will ensure the effective and safe use of cleaning and disinfecting products. Avoid mixing cleaning and disinfection products as this can result in very dangerous fumes that could cause serious injury or even death. Avoid over-disinfection: It is possible to over-disinfect surfaces while trying to ensure no pathogens are left behind. And although these products are great at removing pathogens, their overuse can have serious side effects in humans. Disinfectants can pose an immediate risk to some people, including those who are asthmatic or suffer from migraines, allergies, suppressed immune systems, or immune disorders. They may experience symptoms like headaches, nausea, and vomiting, irritability, difficulty breathing, mood swings, memory loss, seizures, etc. Outdoor areas require normal routine cleaning: Many outdoor surfaces will not be touched; as such, disinfecting them is a waste of supplies. However, some areas like bars and restaurants will require disinfecting. Pools and other water play areas must also be well-maintained, for example disinfecting with chlorine or bromine. What about an unoccupied building? Properties that have not been occupied for over 7 days will do with normal routine cleaning, meaning there's no need for disinfecting. That's because the coronavirus cannot survive on surfaces for longer than this time. But once you reopen, you will have to develop and implement a disinfection plan to keep everyone safe. Work in zones: It's important to separate areas in the building by how likely they are to contain pathogens. Then start with low-risk zones moving into high-risk areas to help avoid cross-contamination. Maintain and Revise the Plan: Once you reopen, it's important to maintain the above disinfection strategies to minimize the risk of contracting COVID-19 and other pathogens. This should be done in conjunction with other safe practices like social distancing, wearing masks, frequent hand washing, and more. Be sure to revise and update your cleaning and disinfection plan based on the current circumstances (level of COVID-19 exposure in your building) and updated guidance by the local and federal governments. Read also: 10 Tactics To Maintain Clear Windows 5 Hotel Housekeeping Tricks You Need To Clean Your Bathroom How Cleaning Helps Us Feel Better and Why We Don’t Do It

The Ultimate Commercial Cleaning Checklist: Everything You For A Spotless Workspace

Maintaining a clean and organized workplace is a must for your well-being and productivity. However, it is no secret that office cleaning is a daunting task. There are so many things you need to consider, not to mention different areas and surfaces require different cleaning methods. Often, different methods require different cleaning equipment and cleaning supplies. In this entry, we will share with you the best practices and processes that the best commercial cleaning services use in their office cleaning service. Here's a commercial cleaning checklist to keep your workplace spotlessly clean. The basics of office cleaning services Before diving into the checklist, it is important that you understand the basic processes of commercial cleaning and how commercial cleaning companies deliver these practices. Most of these things are pretty self-explanatory. However, there is a reason why professional cleaners from commercial cleaning companies are efficient in their job – they know how to do things right. Knowing these practices will help you understand how to do them right too. Dusting Dirt, dust, and allergen particles accumulate quickly. If not removed from the business premises, these particles can get mixed into the indoor air and cause various health problems such as allergies, respiratory problems, headaches, etc. Commercial cleaning plans for office cleaning often include exhaustive dusting of all surfaces. This includes desks, shelves, electronics, windowsills, etc. A good commercial cleaning company uses microfiber cloth and a feather duster to remove dust effectively and safely. Vacuuming Vacuuming is the most efficient way to keep workplaces clean. It removes dirt, dust, and various outdoor debris from carpets, mats, rugs, etc. The advantage of hiring cleaning services is that a commercial cleaning company has access to industrial-grade and powerful vacuum cleaning machines that can truly and efficiently remove dirt, dust, and various debris. Nevertheless, when vacuuming your workplace, include cleaning the hard-to-reach areas, such as under the desks, tables, and chairs. Since they are hard to reach, these spots often trap foreign debris. Mopping Mopping is the best way to keep hard floors clean and shiny. It removes dirt, dust, and grime buildup from the floor. However, there is more to mopping than simply sliding the mop head back and forth on the surface of the floor. When mopping the floor, use a cleaning solution that is recommended for the type of floor you have. To ensure that all areas are covered, you need to mop in a back-and-forth motion. Trash removal and disposal No building maintenance will ever be complete without taking the trash out. When removing trash from your commercial premises, make sure to replace the bin liners as well. And when replacing the liner, make sure you clean the interior of the trash bin. Commercial cleaning services often include weekly disinfection of the trash bin. This is incredibly important in preventing bacteria buildup and odour in your trash bin. Disinfecting surfaces Another crucial aspect of commercial cleaning is surface disinfection. Disinfecting surfaces helps prevent the spread of disease-causing germs and bacteria in the workplace. When disinfecting your workplace, make sure you use a disinfectant spray or antibacterial wipes to clean surfaces. This includes desks, chairs, tables, countertops, light switches, office appliances buttons, and doorknobs. Commercial cleaning services often include disinfection and sanitation of surfaces in their cleaning service. Also, commercial cleaners, in particular, pay close attention to high-touch areas and surfaces, which are often breeding grounds for bacteria. These surfaces include hand railings, elevator buttons, light switches, and more. Bathroom cleaning Bathrooms are often the dirties and smelliest areas for commercial spaces. With that said, it is not surprising that they have become breeding grounds for bacteria and germs. When cleaning bathrooms, make sure you clean and disinfect high-touch spots and items such as faucets, sinks, toilets, and even mirrors. Commercial cleaners often include towel replacement, hand soap refill, and bathroom supplies restocking to ensure your office bathrooms are clean and convenient to use. Breakroom cleaning The breakroom is where employees often gather to chit-chat, eat their food, drink their beverages, and rest. For this reason, breakrooms can become breeding grounds for bacteria and germs. Thus, when taking care of your breakrooms, make sure you include the appliances, countertops, sink, tables, and chairs. Glass window cleaning Often, business owners neglect their windows, thinking they cannot clean surfaces they can’t reach. This is particularly true for tall building establishments. Professional commercial cleaners, however, have access to the right cleaning equipment and materials you need for a thorough and efficient window cleaning. They have tall ladders, power washers, longer hoses, and the right safety equipment and gears for a thorough clean. Floor care Floors, whatever type of flooring material it uses, must be swept daily to remove dirt and debris. Moreover, make sure you use the right floor cleaner that is recommended for the type of flooring material your business premises has. Carpet and upholstery cleaning Carpets and rugs are basically dirt traps. Aside from completing the look of a certain room, carpets function as dirt traps to minimize and even stop dirt and dust from entering the premises. While regular vacuuming can help, most office vacuums are not strong enough to rid carpets of deep-seated stains and bacteria. This is why commercial cleaning services invest in high-quality equipment so they can tackle difficult cleaning jobs like deep carpet cleaning. And like carpets and rugs, upholstered furniture is dirt, dust, and allergen traps too. Regular vacuuming of upholstery removes foreign debris. However, to ensure your carpets are actually clean, fresh, and disinfected, you can ask professional cleaners to take care of them. Most commercial cleaning service companies would suggest deep cleaning for carpets and furniture upholstery once or twice a year. Air vent cleaning Another incredibly important process for comprehensive commercial cleaning services includes air vent cleaning. Air vents accumulate allergens, dust, and foreign debris over time. When there is too much buildup of these particles in your air vent system, your indoor air quality will drop, leading to health issues such as respiratory problems such as asthma attacks. The Ultimate Commercial Cleaning Checklist for Your Workplace Daily Tasks: Desk and Surfaces Wipe down your desk and other surfaces daily with a disinfectant spray or wipe to remove any dirt, dust, or germs. Trash Empty your trash can daily, and ensure all rubbish is disposed of correctly. Floors Sweep or vacuum your floors daily to remove any dirt or debris. Kitchen/Breakroom Clean and sanitize all surfaces, including countertops, sinks, and appliances, daily. Weekly Tasks: Dusting Dust all surfaces, including shelves, pictures, and light fixtures. Glass and Mirrors Clean all glass surfaces, including windows and mirrors, to remove any fingerprints or smudges. Upholstery Vacuum all upholstery, including chairs and couches, to remove any dirt or debris. Disinfecting Disinfect all high-touch areas, including doorknobs, light switches, and handles. Floors Mop or steam-clean your floors weekly to remove any stains or buildup. Monthly Tasks: Windows Clean your windows inside and out to let in more natural light and improve the appearance of your workspace. Carpets Have your carpets cleaned by professionals to remove any deep-seated stains and odours. Deep Cleaning Perform a deep clean and complete disinfection of your entire workspace, including hard-to-reach areas and appliances. Office Equipment Clean and sanitize all office equipment, including computers, printers, and phones. Restrooms Thoroughly clean and sanitize your restroom, including the toilet, sink, and floors. Seasonal Tasks: Outdoor Maintenance If you have an outdoor space, clean and maintain it seasonally to keep it looking its best. HVAC Maintenance Have your HVAC system inspected and cleaned seasonally to ensure proper airflow and reduce allergens. Furniture Maintenance Have any upholstered furniture professionally cleaned seasonally to extend its lifespan? The Takeaway As you can see, office cleaning is not a one-time thing. It is a continuous never-ending process. You can save yourself from all these troubles and opt for professional office cleaning instead. Cleanworks cleaning services is one of the few professional commercial cleaning companies that actually deliver the highest quality professional service. They have been in the industry of professional commercial cleaning for more than two decades, thus they have the track record to say they have “been there, done that”. Cleanworks cleaning services have a fully trained, extensively experienced, and completely equipped cleaning team to handle all sorts of cleaning. Their office cleaners are fully insured and up-to-date with the latest local cleaning requirements and COVID cleaning guidelines. Call Cleanworks commercial cleaning services now and get free quotes for your commercial cleaning needs. Their professional staff will be more than willing to help you. Read Also: Why Is A Janitorial Service For Commercial Establishments? 10 Pro Tips To Minimize Commercial Door Repair & Maintenance Cost The Hidden Damages In Workspaces: 5 Steps To Reduce The Risk Of Workplace Injuries!

Basic Idea on Power Tools for Home Improvement

There are times where you will need to make repairs and modifications to your property. This is because some jobs are simply just too small to call for the services of a trade's person. Power tools are very much indispensable for home improvement and DIY projects as well. More so, you may be the type that prefers fixing things yourself where you can. For this reason, you would need some basic tools that can make improvements and repair your home easier. Read also: 3 Tips On How To Plan The Best Cheap And Fabulous DIY Bedroom Makeover Some of these basic tools are discussed below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pop5nwNSlM[/embed] Power tools These are one of the most common devices that are required to ensure a maximum level of perfection in virtually all type of DIY projects. More so, they are highly useful, especially if you want to ensure a satisfactory level of precision in your DIY projects. So they are capable of yielding the best results when used with safety gear. Handling these tools with extreme carefulness is important. The essence is to avoid disconnecting it from its receptacle. Some basic power tools are as follows: Miter saw: If you are handling any woodworking projects, then a miter saw is highly suggested for you. This unique type of saw is known for framing corners, and it is one of the types of saws that cut accurately. There are different types of miter saws. And some of them can sometimes be very expensive. Read also: 5 Other Uses For Your Garage The manual has lesser features when compared with the power miter ones. Therefore, the former tends to be more expensive and are the best miter saws. There are different types of power miter saws. These are the dual compound, standard and sliding compound amongst others. And are expensive than the manual ones. This is because they are the best miter saws that make special cuts more portable. Via Amazon.com Table Saw: This is one of the ‘hearts' of any workshop that is devoted to all types of fine woodworking projects. However, you can go as a woodworker to determine the type, quality and capabilities of your table saw. For this reason, it is important to have in-depth knowledge of the type and capabilities of the table saw you intend using for any woodwork. More so, before investing your dollars in any table saw, seek the services of a more knowledgeable individual or expert in such or related fields to help you get the best table saws. The essence is to avoid making mistakes that would result in the waste of both human and material resources. The types of table saw such as the cabinet saw is lightweight. So it should also be taken into consideration, especially if you want to purchase any of the best table saws. Via Baileigh.com Chain Saw: Shopping for a chainsaw is amongst the most significant investment choices a woodworker can make. However, knowing what you want and being able to differentiate it from a table saw is paramount. Interestingly, they are pretty much the same with saws, apart from the fact that they are much more portable. Unlike most other types of saws, they are usually powered by more than one source. Some of these sources are compressed air, electricity and hydraulic power etcetera. And all of these parts are provided by a two-stroke engine. They are, however, usually used by woodworkers that always perform bucking. Via Amazon.com Drill Press: These are the most popular and versatile power tools. In addition to drilling, a drill press is capable of performing different types of secondary tasks, especially when attached to the right type of attachments. Interestingly, they can be used as a power sander, with the right sanding attachments. Although not as good as a dedicated power sander, a drill is more suitable and efficient when it comes to carrying out household tasks except that you have the intention of doing lots of woodworking. Using a drill and a hammer is paramount, especially if you intend carrying out any work on exterior walls. Via Assets.rockler.com Circular saw: There are different types of circular saws. Unlike most other types of saws, this type of saw is characterized by the circular blade that lumps in it a group of different types of saws that uses that type of blade. With saw teeth and a metal disc, the blade of this type of saw can spin around, which is paramount to achieving an accurate cut. Apart from making a big difference, power tools are necessary for success, especially when it comes to large projects or even those that involve heavy-duty landscaping works. If therefore, you intend buying a power tool, it is important to think of what you intend building and the time available. So power tools are suitable for DIY projects, and it is an integral part of home improvement services. Read also: Floor Cutting Using Diamond Saw: What You Need To Know

How To Prepare Your Home For Protecting Keepsakes During Storm Surges

Staying Prepared Before Storm Surges