At All Times, Service Above Self

Rains Approaching Is Your Home Ready? by Brian Humphrey LAFD Firefighter/Paramedic Dear Friend of the LA Fire Department: With rainstorm season now approaching in Southern California the men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department want to remind you of the importance of home and family storm preparedness.

Each winter, Los Angeles Firefighters respond to thousands of flooding and water-related structural damage calls that could have easily been prevented. Whether the loss of a prized possession carelessly stored at a low spot on the garage floor - of the entire collapse of a roof, these episodes bring needless heartache and extreme expense to homeowners and extra work to Firefighters who are already taxed in dealing with an increase of traffic collisions and other rain-related maladies.

To help you prepare for winter storms, the LAFD is pleased to offer a Homeowner's Guide to Flood, Storm Debris and Erosion Control in PDF format:

http://www.lacity.org/LADBS/Reports_and_Publications/floodmit.pdf

And since winter storms can escalate to the point of being true emergencies, we encourage you also to print our award-winning companion publication, the LAFD's Disaster Preparedness Handbook in PDF format:

http://www.lafd.org/ostrich.pdf

Here are some tips that you can use right now to prepare for winter rainstorms:

Make sure you set aside afternoon each year to winterize your home. It needn't take the entire day, but do allow yourself enough time to go shopping for supplies when you find a surprise.

While roofs, gutters, drains and downspouts should be at the top of your checklist, don't forget to closely inspect patios, driveways and other watershed areas. Pay particular attention to drainage and make sure that something as simple as leaves or an errant tennis ball doesn't force you to play Noah when the rains come. It is indeed these simple clogs or inattention to drainage patterns caused by new landscape or construction that leads to a majority of our calls for aid.

Remember that a roof can be a dangerous place, and you might be able to inspect a great deal of your roof through a pair of borrowed binoculars. If you are planning to perform a rooftop inspection or maintenance yourself, make sure you have the proper equipment.

You will need a sturdy ladder that is tall enough to access your roof safely, shoes with good traction, and most importantly, a competent adult work partner who can serve as a spotter. Because problems can be hard to spot a second time, you may wish to bring some hand tools for quick repairs as well as some chalk to mark spots that will require a second visit. We suggest a tool belt or hoisting hand- tools to the roof if carrying them will in any way interfere with climbing a ladder safely.

If you don't feel you'll be steady on your roof, don't hesitate to contact a professional licensed contractor to do the inspection for you. Be leery however, of workers who just happen to be in the area offering discount roof repairs. There is no need to enter into a contract in a hurry, and before you spend a penny, be certain they are licensed and offer recommendations from previous local clients.

If you live in California, its no more difficult than visiting:

http://www.cslb.ca.gov

Before you or anyone climbs a ladder though, you may wish to do what Firefighters do well in advance of winter at their own homes. At or near noontime on a sunny day, go into the attic of your home and look for leaking light. If the sun can shine though that loose shingle or flashing, then rain is sure to follow!

Thankfully, there are many other visual clues that can help point to problem areas. They include:

	Missing, damaged, or improperly aligned shingles.
	Exposed or raised nails.
	Cracked or missing caulk or roofing cement.
	Water-stains.
	Missing, improperly installed or damaged flashing.

Metal flashing helps direct water away from many permanent fixtures that are either on or penetrate your roof. Vents, fireplaces, skylights, antennas, satellite dishes, heater pipes, air conditioning ducts, turbines, cables or any low spot on your roof are examples of where you need to inspect any flashing. If the flashing is damaged or missing, have it repaired or replaced.

While on or viewing your roof, check the status of your roofing material. Wooden shingles and other materials often deteriorate over several years time, and it may be time to replace your roof. If you get the gut feeling that you need to replace your roofing material and the signs are there, please don't delay in getting a second opinion from a licensed contractor.

You won't believe how many flooded homes we visit where people tell us they were just "hoping to make it through what the weatherman said would be a dry winter".

As mentioned before, always contact a licensed and insured professional to do the job, and don't hesitate to tell them you are shopping for both price and quality.

We hope this information will help keep your family safe from the very real dangers of winter storms. Your home is more than a roof, so don't forget to also inspect your heating, plumbing and electrical systems for any obvious problems.

Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,

Brian Humphrey

Firefighter/Paramedic
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department
E-Mail: beh9593@lafd.lacity.org

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