METEOROLOGIST & AUTHOR OF EXTREME WEATHER BONNIE SCHNEIDER GIVES A GUIDE FOR SURVIVAL
What Families Can Do to be Prepared for Severe Weather Events that are Becoming More Frequent
We see it on the news almost every day; record floods, earthquakes, crippling blizzards and tornadoes hitting unusual parts of the nation. September is National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Preparedness Agency, and it comes at a time when the incidence of extreme weather events seems to be growing. As a network television meteorologist, Bonnie Schneider has been predicting storms and following weather patterns for many years. Her knowledge of the weather and her concerns for safety inspired her to write the informative and fascinating book, EXTREME WEATHER: A Guide to Surviving Flash Floods, Hurricanes, Heat Waves, Snowstorms, Tsunamis and Other Natural Disasters. Bonnie shared expert advice just in time for National Preparedness Month. Find out why this meteorologist has dedicated her career to preparing people to survive extreme weather. It should be a lively discussion.
THE FIRST THING WE SHOULD DO TO BE PREPARED FOR A STROM
During severe weather power outages can be prevalent. So, the best time to prepare for a power outage is well in advance. When preparing for any size storm I recommend having a generator, which as we know, can be noisy. Now, there is an innovative, quieter generator from Briggs & Stratton, the Q6500 QuietPower Series Inverter Generator. It is 60 percent quieter than most generators, so quiet you won’t disrupt a night’s sleep while the unit is running. The Q6500 can provide emergency backup power to the important home appliances, like a refrigerator, sump pump, television, microwave and can also be used for cell phone chargers and lights. Also, compared to other generators it is very affordable, only $1499. While we can’t control natural weather phenomena like rain, lightning, snow, ice, wind or even dust, we can keep the power on and our lives going. For more information, visit www.briggsandstratton.com
HOW TO PROTECT PROPERTY IN ADVANCE OF A MAJOR STORM
You never know when a catastrophe will hit, that’s why it is so important to be prepared. It’s important to make sure you have good homeowners’ and car insurance. I recommend Esurance, it is quality insurance at affordable prices. They settle claims fast and efficiently with their easy to use online tools and smart technology. For example, during recent hurricanes, Esurance used smart technology like predictive analytics and aerial images to see the damage to your car, allowing them to waive inspections and settle claims quickly. So, you can recover from a major storm as fast as possible. For more information, visit www.esurance.com
WAYS WE CAN STAY SAFE DURING A STORM
As many of us know, storms can wreak havoc, thus causing power outages. To stay safe in a storm, I recommend having a preparedness kit. It should include emergency telephone numbers, water, a reliable flashlight, and of course, it’s important to always have batteries in your kit. Duracell batteries are the only battery brand I trust. They are essential during a storm to power flash lights and battery-operated radios. They can last up to 10 years when stored properly, so I know they’ll be good when I need them during a major storm. Also, Duracell is helping those affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, with the Duracell's Power Forward fleet. The fleet has been on the ground distributing free batteries, mobile charging and free Wi-Fi. Find live location updates on their Twitter page, @Duracell. For more information, visit www.duracell.com
