Can you believe that hurricane proof windows don’t come standard in new Florida homes? Even worse is that there’s not a requirement for them in Florida. It baffles me just as much as you. When my husband and I were house hunting, we were shocked to see hurricane proof windows as a selling point in homes. It was only then that we realized this needed to be a priority in our new house! Unfortunately our forever home didn’t include this “feature” but it will be our first major investment! Hurricane proof windows can withstand high winds and great impacts. This means that the need for shutters is minimal. You’ll save yourself a lot of time and money in the long run.

As previously mentioned, Florida hit some pretty low temperatures this winter. It even snowed in north Florida. Not a single Florida homeowner or resident was prepared for these temps. I even found myself hiding in my bedroom (in our rental home) because it was the warmest room in the house. I couldn’t but to wonder why it was colder inside than outside. Were there uninsulated walls? What about cold spots? These questions swirled in my head when we bought our new house. I couldn’t kick the thoughts, so I decided to try these innovative Smart Diagnostic Sensors called BlindSpotz.

These cold spot sensors would commonly be used for northerners who experience very low temps but with a winter like this one, I know it wouldn’t hurt to test our new Florida home. These removable Smart sensors come in a pack of 8 and can be placed on a wall in any areas where you might suspect a cold spot: doors, walls, closets, near windows, outlets, etc.. You leave these sensors in place for 48 hours when temps hit 32 or below and let them do their magic. If the BlindSpotz sensors detect temps between 50-55, take photos and email them to BlindSpotz who will in turn, give you give you a number of solutions to help protect your home from those future harsh winter temperatures.

Not only will this help you fix problem areas that you can’t see, it will help you save on energy bills! Maybe your FL home isn’t prepared for cold weather, but it should be! Fix the problem before it’s a problem.

Did you know that you should be checking your heating system every 3-4 months? You don’t need to hire an inspector for this. You can simply run the heat for 30 mins to an hour every few months just to ensure that it’s getting the job done. A common problem in FL this cold season was heating systems not working properly. This caused families to spend additional funds on new heating systems that needed to be installed immediately. Prices were hiked up due to the demand of the work needed and quick turnaround. You can prevent all of this by simply checking your heating systems often.

I wish I’d been more prepared for Hurricane Irma. Thousands of people in our county spoke those same words in 2017 when Irma ripped through the states, destroying homes and leaving millions without power and supplies for weeks. Florida had a desperate need for water, ice, food, gas, and fans. Florida had a shortage of all those items and more. I wish I’d taken it more seriously. I wish I’d planned ahead because I spent over a week without the proper supplies needed to get through each day. Please, start preparing your emergency kits TODAY! These are the items you’ll need to prepare for a disaster in Florida:

• A large sealed tub or container
• Batteries in different sizes
• Cash
• A few gallons of gas for each vehicle and/or generators
• Nonperishable foods
• Gallons of drinking water per person (at least 1 per day, per person)
• Multiple Battery powered fans
• Prescription and over-the-counter Medications
• Blankets
• Life jackets
• Mosquito repellent
• Battery powered radio
• Candles
• Lighter & matches
• Flashlights

5. Evacuation Plan

6. Emergency funds

Finally, it’s important to always have emergency funds that you can access at any time or day. Your funds should be enough to include airfare, gas, food, and accommodations for a few days. Be sure you have enough saved to take care of the whole family! If at all possible, keep enough cash on hand to cover some of these expenses. Credit cards will not work at locations without electricity.

If you choose not to evacuate, those funds will likely be used to replenish supplies, to fill up on gas, and for home repairs. Don’t underestimate a disaster in your home. It could happen to anyone.