Hurricane Season: How to Prepare for a Storm
Solar News
This week, Hurricane Ian is barreling towards the Gulf Coast of Florida. Airports, schools, stores and businesses are closed as Ian gets closer and closer. There are currently five categories of hurricanes that each represents varying degrees of severity; Category I is the least threatening with sustained winds of 74-95 mph, and Category V being the worst-case scenario for homeowners, with sustained winds of 157 mph or higher.[1]
Hurricane Ian is teetering on the brink of a Category V, and this means that the west coast of Florida will sustain, “Catastrophic damage will occur. Well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.”[2]
So, what can you do to prepare for damage to your home and power outages? Here is your Momentum Storm Guide!
Are you already a solar storm pro and want to speak to a Momentum specialist about battery storage? Click here or call 1-888-MOMENTUM today.
How to Prepare
Now, many people have the option to leave the area before the storm, and this is always the best way to prepare. If you can leave, pack up your essentials, snacks, clothes and small valuables and make your way to a hotel, friend or family member’s home. But how do you prepare if you must stay home and weather the storm? Below are a few key steps to follow!
- Plan your evacuation route well ahead of time.
- Keep a stash of emergency supplies on hand.
- An emergency food and water supply.
- An emergency medicine supply.
- Emergency power sourcessuch as flashlights (don’t forget extra batteries).
- Safety and personal items.
- Important documents, including medical documents, wills, passports, and personal identification.
- A fire extinguisher. Make sure your family knows where to find it and how to use it! Read the National Fire Protection Association’s tips for using fire extinguishers.
- Take an inventory of your personal property.
- Review your insurance policies.
- Take steps to protect your home.
If you have a business, it is also advised to take the same steps. It is better to always be prepared. If you would like to read more about preparing for a storm, click here!
Momentum Keeps the Lights On
Being prepared for extreme weather is one way to keep yourself and family safe. But during smaller (non-hurricane) storms where you can ride out the weather safely from home, battery storage may be a helpful solution.
Momentum Solar is excited to offer battery storage to homeowners with solar, and homeowners looking to go solar and add a battery backup system. We teamed up with an energy powerhouse to bring you the best battery storage solutions. Through our exclusive partnership with Enphase, Momentum provides homeowners just like you with energy management technology to keep your home powered up, even during harsh weather conditions. This includes instances where the rest of your neighborhood is experiencing a blackout due to extreme weather, rolling utility outages or other emergencies.
Having solar panels with storage means you always have energy to use – especially when you need it the most. The best part? When your panels produce more energy than you need, they can store that power for a rainy day in your Enphase battery unit.
Get Powered Up
As one of the fastest-growing solar power companies in the country, our team is here to help you keep the lights on. Whether you are on the East Coast, down South or on the sunny West, Momentum is ready to help you weather the storm.
Click here or call us today at 1-888-MOMENTUM to learn more about our services and how you can get started.
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/09/27/us/hurricane-ian-florida-news
[2] https://www.nbcnewyork.com/weather/weather-stories/hurricane-categories-breaking-down-the-very-dangerous-to-the-catastrophic/3882035/
