Q:

We’ve had some intense weather already this year, but with storm season and summer approaching, I’d appreciate a refresh on safety and preparedness — talking points I can share with my family later.

A:

Good idea. It’s never too early to begin thinking about and discussing these topics. I’ll start by summarizing a few relevant, existing On the House articles (all of which can be found here). This issue of Carolina Country as a whole has great insights, as well.

One consideration is protecting your home from lightning-driven power surges (“Shielding from Surges,” July 2025), which can disable appliances and devices even if the lights don’t go out. A distinction is between point-of-use surge protection (like a power strip for smaller devices) and whole-home surge protection for larger equipment (like a well pump, HVAC system or water heater), offering more robust defense.

If you’re interested in backup power options, you can learn about some technologies in “Backup Power Options” (July 2023). These include portable and standby generators as well as battery energy storage systems and even certain electric vehicles. Smaller battery units can also double as a quiet, emissions-free power source for picnics, tailgates and the like.

Lastly, it’s important not to overlook moisture management after flooding from extreme weather (“Dealing with Water Damage After the Storm,” November 2024). As water recedes, your house might look fine, but there may be damage or microbial growth hidden in the walls, floors and ceiling that needs to be taken seriously.

OK, with those recaps out of the way, let’s shift gears and talk about other summer safety reminders.

Heat safety

Excessive heat is no joke. If you’re heading outdoors (to knock out home projects, maybe?) and the temperature and humidity are ticking up, be sure to listen to your body, drink plenty of water (even if you’re not thirsty), and wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.

If you start to feel faint or dizzy, or experience muscle cramps or heavy sweating, it’s time to — at a minimum — move to a cooler, air-conditioned location out of the sun.

Lightning safety

We touched on lightning above in relation to power surges, but it’s worth addressing more broadly. If lightning is close, it’s critical to get inside as soon as possible. From there, keep back from windows and doors and try not to touch plumbing or anything that’s plugged in.

If you’re unable to make it indoors, avoid staying in or around open areas, water, and isolated tall trees, towers or utility poles.

Water safety

May is Water Safety Month, which can apply to both swimming and boating. A couple of tips to remember are to make sure your children are supervised when around any body of water (drowning can happen quickly and quietly), and to include proper life jackets and flotation devices when boating. If your family spends a lot of time on or around the water, you might also consider getting CPR training, often offered for free at many businesses and community centers.

One other note is that the National Weather Service runs a StormReady program that helps communities plan and prepare for extreme weather. Visit weather.gov if your community might be interested.

And for all of these topics, don’t forget to check in on friends, family and neighbors — doing so could save a life, literally.