March 2015 Events in the Atlanta Area

March 1st - 15th: Rainforest Adventures at the Center for Puppetry Arts

March 4th: Atlanta Magazine's Best of Atlanta Party at Cobb Galleria Centre

March 6th - 8th: Great American RV Show at Georgia World Congress Center

March 13th - 15th: American Craft Council Atlanta Show at Cobb Galleria Centre

March 20th - 22nd: The Spring Atlanta Home Show at Cobb Galleria Centre

March 21st: Beer Carnival at Atlantic Station

March 21st - 22nd: Thunder in the Valley Air Show in Columbus

March 20th - 22nd: Georgia Marathon & Fitness Expo at Centennial Olympic Park

March 25th - 29th: Atlanta International Auto Show at Georgia World Congress Center

What Is the Proper Way to Vacuum?

Proper vacuuming is the easiest and most effective way to keep your carpet clean. It may come as a surprise that something as simple as regular vacuuming can also have the largest impact on the air you breathe. Removing loose soil while it remains on the carpet surface prevents dirt from being ground into the carpet pile and can help preserve the cushiness of your carpet. Keep in mind green cleaning starts with vacuuming.

How to vacuum

On carpet, use slow, repetitive front-to-back motions in an overlapping sequence. A quick once over doesn't do much. On the other hand, don't press down or make too many passes over the same spot. Instead, move slightly to the left or right about every four strokes. To get the most out of your vacuuming regime, remember these few easy tips:

• When vacuuming, don't ignore those corners and crevices where dust builds.
• "Top-down" cleaning saves you the step of vacuuming again after dusting. Dust blinds, windowsills, and furniture surfaces first and then vacuum away any fallen dust.
• Remember to remove and replace or empty vacuum bags when they are half to two-thirds full.  

Safely Cleaning Up Tree Debris

Much of Georgia has been affected by the recent winter storms. Many families are now cleaning up trees and debris. How can this clean up be done safely? Here are some great tips from The Georgia Forestry Commission...

Storm events such as tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, and ice can considerably impact trees in Georgia. The following information is aimed at assisting homeowners and community officials to prepare and respond quickly and safely before and after storm events.

An effective storm plan should include the following:

Preparation

Planning activities. For homeowners, this may include contacting a certified arborist. For community officials planning includes: an early warning system for severe weather, a disaster response plan, identification of roles of municipal entities during a disaster, and identification of sources of additional assistance during an emergency.

Response

Immediate activity during and after the disaster.  Examples include tree damage clean up, clearance, office/field communications, identification of debris disposal options, and the use of efficient record-keeping methods.

Recovery

Activities after the storm event that attempt to restore conditions existing prior to the disaster. Examples include public and private tree planting, tree care, and training of volunteers and municipal workers.

Events in the Atlanta Area for February 2015

February 6th: Jerry Seinfeld at the Fox Theatre

February 6th - 13th: Atlanta Ballet presents Romeo et Juliette at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center

February 11th - 16th: Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Legends at Philips Arena

February 16th: Harry Connick, Jr. at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center

February 19th - 21st: Georgia National Rodeo in Perry

February 21st & 28th: Supercross at Georgia Dome

February 28th: Beer, Bourbon and BBQ at Atlantic Station

Disaster Preparedness Month By Month

Disaster Preparedness can be overwhelming. Check out this great month by month plan by Do 1 Thing with additional tips from ReadyGA. By doing one thing each month, by the time a year has passed, you will have taken big steps toward being ready for the unexpected.

January—Make a Plan: Disasters can happen. Devise a plan and make sure everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency. This is also a great time to start preparing your Ready kit.

February—Water: During a disaster, municipal and private drinking water sources may become contaminated. Having at least one gallon per person per day, for at least three days, for drinking and hygiene is essential.

March—Shelter: If a disaster strikes and you’re no longer able to stay in your home, do you know where you’ll go? Download the Ready Georgia mobile app so you can quickly find the nearest shelter to where you live.

April—Food: The key to good food storage is to plan ahead of time. Make sure you have at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food available.

May—Work & School: Disasters can happen anywhere and at any time so it’s important to have an understanding of what the emergency procedures are at your workplace. Also, learn the notification procedures at your child’s school and make sure your emergency contact information is up to date.

June—Family Needs: Does your child or loved one need a specific type of medication? Make a list of special items you’ll need in case of an emergency.

July—Family Communications Plan: Have multiple ways to contact your loved ones in an emergency, such as email, social media or texting. It may be easier to call someone out of state than to call across town, so be sure to identify a friend or relative that family members can contact to let them know they are safe. Keep in mind that you might not have access to your phone or computer during an emergency.

READ THE REST OF THE TIPS AT READY GEORGIA

Winter Weather Driving Tips

It's best to stay off the roads if at all possible during winter storms. If you have to be on the road, here are some great safety tips from ReadyGeorgia...

Maintain at least a half tank of gas during the winter season.

Keep an extra Ready kit in the trunk of your car. In addition to the basic essentials, consider adding a portable cell phone charger, ice scraper, extra blanket, sand for traction and jumper cables.

Follow directions from local officials about driving during snow and ice storms, and drive with caution.

SLOW DOWN to at least half your normal speed and use a low gear as you drive.

Don’t stop going up a hill. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.

Do not use cruise control and avoid abrupt steering maneuvers.

Be mindful of road crews working to clear the snow and ice from the roadway.

Motorists should not pass a dump truck spreading the salt/gravel mixture, as gravel may bounce up and could break windshields. Follow at least 100 feet behind all vehicles.

If you come to a traffic signal that is not working, treat it as a four-way stop.

READ MORE SAFETY TIPS

Clothes Dryer Safety Tips

Doing laundry is most likely part of your every day routine. But did you know how important taking care of your clothes dryer is to the safety of your home? With a few simple safety tips you can help prevent a clothes dryer fire.

• Have your dryer installed and serviced by a professional.
• Do not use the dryer without a lint filter.
• Make sure you clean the lint filter before or after each load of laundry. Remove lint that has collected around the drum.
• Rigid or flexible metal venting material should be used to sustain proper air flow and drying time.
• Make sure the air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted and the outdoor vent flap will open when the dryer is operating. Once a year, or more often if you notice that it is taking longer than normal for your clothes to dry, clean lint out of the vent pipe or have a dryer lint removal service do it for y.
• Keep dryers in good working order. Gas dryers should be inspected by a professional to make sure that the gas line and connection are intact and free of leaks.
• Make sure the right plug and outlet are used and that the machine is connected properly.
• Follow the manufacturer's operating instructions and don't overload your dryer.
• Turn the dryer off if you leave home or when you go to bed.

AND DON'T FORGET...

• Dryers should be properly grounded.
• Check the outdoor vent flap to make sure it is not covered by snow.
• Keep the area around your dryer clear of things that can burn, like boxes, cleaning supplies and clothing, etc.
• Clothes that have come in contact with flammable substances, like gasoline, paint thinner, or similar solvents should be laid outside to dry, then can be washed and dried as usual.

FACT: The leading cause of home clothes dryer fires is failure to clean them. 

SHOULD I RESTORE MY OWN HOME AFTER A FIRE?

FAQ: SHOULD I RESTORE MY OWN HOME AFTER A FIRE?

While it is possible, it is not recommended.  This is one of those instances where what you don't know can hurt you.  Restoration is a scientific discipline that is practiced by trained professionals. If not done correctly you might be creating hazardous health conditions for you and your family.  Most homeowner's insurance policies will pay for you to hire a professional restoration contractor to return your property to its pre-loss condition. 

January 2015 Atlanta Area Events

January 10th: Monster Jam at Georgia Dome

January 15th - 18th: Atlanta Boat Show at Georgia World Congress Center

January 16th: Martina McBride - The Everlasting Tour at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center

January 23rd - 25th: Atlanta Camping & RV Show at Atlanta Exposition Center South 

January 23rd: Merle Haggard at Atlanta Symphony Hall

January 23rd - 25th: The Great American Motorcycle Show at North Atlanta Trade Center in Norcross

January 31st: Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band at the Arena at the Gwinnett Center 

The Do's and Don'ts Water Damage

DO:

• Have a professional plumbing contractor eliminate the water source.
• Call a professional water damage restoration company immediately for help! Damage from water and bacteria growth can begin within just a few hours.
• Remove as much water as possible from floors by mopping or blotting with clean white towels.
• Turn off circuit breakers supplying electricity to wet areas if appropriate. Unplug and remove any small electrical devices located on wet carpet or other wet surfaces.
• Remove wet area rugs or other floor coverings that are not attached. Do not remove wall-to-wall carpet.
• Hang draperies and pin up furniture skirts to prevent contact with wet carpet.
• Wipe furniture and prop up wet cushions for even drying.
• Remove small furniture items to prevent rust or stains and to expedite restoration.
• Remove books, shoes, paper goods, fabrics, potted plants and other items that may stain the carpet (be sure to check under the beds and in closets).
• Move photos, paintings, art and any high-value items to a safe, dry location.
• Open drawers and closet and cabinet doors to speed the drying process.
• Make plans for a restoration crew to move large furniture items onto dry carpet, linoleum, garage or storage area.

DON'T:

• Don’t use your home vacuum because electrical shock may result as well as damage to the vacuum.
• Don’t use TV’s or other appliances on wet carpet or floors.
• Don’t place newspaper in the traffic areas because the ink transfers easily.
• Don’t walk on wet carpet more than necessary in order to keep from spreading damage.
• Don’t activate the HVAC system if it has been directly contacted by the water or it may spread contamination.
• Don’t disturb visible mold.