The document discusses preparing for natural disasters such as winter storms and hailstorms. It defines a prepper as someone who prepares in advance for changes in normal circumstances. It provides a list of recommended supplies to have on hand for an emergency kit, including water, food, first aid supplies, tools, cash, important documents, clothing, entertainment, a generator, and self defense items if desired. The document emphasizes the importance of being prepared, as hailstorms in particular can cause significant property damage very quickly. It advises having your roof inspected and protected to prevent hail damage.

1. While watching the news last night, and seeing the amount of School and business Closings scheduled for today, Preparing for the
impending "WINTRY MIX OF FREEZING RAIN AND ICE", I was reminded of a recent conversation with a friend. It was about
Hurricane Sandy and whether one could prepare for a natural disaster.
While there is ABSOLUTELY nothing you can do in the event that your house is hit by Tornadoes, water or the such. You CAN
prepare for the aftermath...ARE YOU A PREPPER??
Web definition:
A prepper is an individual or group that prepares or makes preparations in advance of, or prior to, any change in normal
circumstances...
If you are anything like me, you are a moderate "prepper". I have a plan, I follow the weather, And I have a KIT...just in case of
emergency, or as I have just recently been made aware of..."SHTF" stuff...which includes, as per FEMA,
The following:
Water
Food
Battery-powered radio
Flashlight and extra batteries
First aid kit
Whistle to signal for help
Dust mask to help filter contaminated air
Moist towelettes, garbage bags
Wrench or pliers to (my entire toolbox stays in the truck)
Manual can opener for food
Local maps
Cell phone with chargers, inverter (my rolling office is sustained by this)
I also have the following items:
Prescription Medicine
Petfood
Cash and Change
Bank records
Passport (for all members of the household)
Driver’s license
Sleeping bag and air mattress
Change of clothing (if you know me at all, you know how necessary this item is)
Electronic and non-electronic games and reading materials for my child
And "Protection" (this can be anything that YOU are comfortable with)
There are other items like a generator that I would also recommend you have near.
Although many wouldn’t consider a hailstorm a natural disaster, hail can be extremely destructive and potentially hazardous. In
fact, hail is estimated to cause almost one billion dollars’ worth of damage to homes, cars and crops each year.
Hail forms during a thunderstorm or tornado when drops of rain are frozen by cold downdrafts of air that form in the upper parts of
the atmosphere, and the onslaught of ice can sometimes be the size of a softball, which I have personally witnessed while working in
Kansas City 3 years ago!
Hailstorms can take place anywhere that experiences thunderstorms, though they are most frequent in the Midwest, which is where
most of the United States is located geographically.
In 2009, Georgia experienced an extremely costly Hail event...as a matter of fact, Just last year Sandy Springs was assaulted by
hail...and the north, across Kennesaw-Cartersville and Gwinnett, sees hail quite constantly. Hail can cause intense damage to
windows, garage doors, roofing and siding, and can be potentially fatal to pets left outside.
To preventatively protect your home, you may want to consider having your roof thoroughly inspected, and re-roofing it if necessary,
as that is the area of your home most susceptible to a hail assault. During a hailstorm, make sure all pets (and people!) are indoors
safely, and cover all windows with curtains, blinds or shutters to protect you and your family from any broken glass that may result
from large hailstones on a diagonal trajectory.
While working in Arizona of all places, Almost EVERY house and A/C unit was damaged by an assault of hail!
Call ABR for a free inspection to ascertain whether You and Your house are Prepared.