No matter where you are on your financial journey, you can still turn your financial situation around. Sometimes all it takes is that first step in the right direction to get things moving in your favor. The most difficult part is often jus…
Tips on Cleaning and Reconditioning
Check your insurance requirements first before operating or attempting to clean vehicles, equipment, or tractors. File appropriate claims.Then clean tractors, trucks, and farm equipment. Delay makes dirt…
Buildings that have been exposed to floodwaters need to be evaluated for the extent of damage and the amount of cleanup and repairs necessary to restore them to a useable condition.
The first thing that needs to be done with a building tha…
Standby generators are powered by tractors or engines and may be either portable or stationary. Engine-driven units available may have an automatic or manual start and are powered by gasoline, LP gas (bottled gas), or diesel fuel.
Generato…
Erosion is probably one of the most common concerns after a wildfire. Post-fire erosion depends on many factors. Generally, erosion hazard increases as slope increases and vegetative cover decreases. To be safe, assume all drainage in steep…
If you have storm-damaged trees, you may need to hire an arborist. Unskilled work often results in damage or structural weakness the tree will keep throughout its existence. Unskilled tree work, such as topping or excessive limbing up, ofte…
After a damaging storm, trees are always a concern. Tree debris is the most common problem blocking roads and foot traffic, and it is likely to have damaged property.
High-Risk Storm Damage
First, assess the risk a storm-damaged t…
The most common reason for storm power outages is a tree falling onto power and communications lines. The utilities do their best to clear the lines of branches to prevent this, but in strong storms, this is not always enough.
After a stor…
Home Gardens and Floods
If your backyard garden was in a flooded area, chances are it lost some nitrogen. You will have to refertilize. If you were about to prepare your garden, wait a couple of days. Do not till or cultivate your garden w…
Flood damage to your home or office may be extensive and overwhelming. What about your landscape and garden? Your first impulse may be to pull all the plants out and start over. But wait. Your landscape may at least partially recover.
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You are responsible for clearing debris from your property after a damaging natural event.
Here are some guidelines for setting priorities for clearing debris after a severe storm.
Land Use and Value
Clear streets and roads to …
Professional conservators offer several basic guidelines for searching for and recovering family treasures in the ruins of a fire. Once you are allowed to reenter the fire area, keep these safety tips in mind:
Before moving into a fi…
Many items that have been in a fire may be salvaged. Your first thought may be to rinse items. Don’t do it. Water and other cleaning solutions will drive soot and ash further into the surface of your items. They will become impossible to …
Not all warped wood flooring can be repaired. The extent of damage depends partly on the kind of material used in the floor. Different woods react differently to dampness or flooding.
Plywood
Many home have plywood subfloors. Plyw…
When you have flood-damaged carpeting and rugs, your options depend on the source of flooding. If sewage-contaminated floodwater has covered your carpeting, you will need to discard it for health safety reasons. You can assume the water and…