Supporting your success 1

NW I Issue 35 I 2013

Winter storm preparation is more than just cleaning out the gutters.

With the prediction of the next big rain or storm often a little hit and miss, it is a good idea to start your winter weather-proofing early.

Having your home and sheds ready for the next deluge or strong winds need not take a lot of time or energy.

If you prepare your property before winter storms hit you can save yourself a lot of time and money in costly repairs.

Start your clean up first by identifying your key priority areas.

This will provide the biggest benefit for your time.

Some of the priority areas that you need to prepare before winter storms are:

• Clean all gutters and check that downpipes are free flowing.

• Repair any gutters or down pipes to ensure water is moved away from buildings.

• Stow any loose sheets of wood, metal or other building material.

• Check the quality of the rooves on all existing structures. Secure any loose sheets of iron on sheds. Small cracks in tiles can be easily fixed with a liquid sealer, broken tiles should be

replaced and debris should be removed from the roof.

• Skylights and solar hot water systems should be checked for any cracks or brittle panels. If your skylight or solar hot water system is starting to look brittle it might be time to replace.

• If you have external gas bottles ensure that they are secured or stowed away. If you have a generator for emergency power check the fluid levels, spark plugs and that it is operating correctly. In the event that a severe weather warning is issued ensure that it is easily accessible and fully fuelled.

Don’t forget the extra fuel and extension leads.

• Prune trees which are hanging close to the house or shed and if you have trees near power lines look at getting them professionally pruned or removed. Be careful!

• Driveways and access tracks should also be maintained. Clear away low hanging branches, fix up creek crossings and ensure that your access ways are not going to become flooded or boggy.

• It is also a good idea to have a small kit made up of essential stores if you lose power. Items

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Weathering winter storms on your small property

noteworthySmall landholder series

Supporting your success 2

NW I Issue 35 I 2013

Who to contact for helpIn the event your house is damaged and you require emergency assistance you can contact your local State Emergency Service.

If you do not know the number find out from your local shire council.

It is also a good idea to have a list of other important numbers for electricity, gas, your insurance company, ambulance, fire brigade and the shire ranger if you are in a rural area.

Keep them somewhere easy to find in an emergency.

Safety firstIf you are doing your own maintenance on your roof take extra care if the roof is damp, covered in moss or steep sloping – this can make the roof slippery.

If possible, have someone on the ground to help hold the ladder when you are getting on and off the roof.

If no one else is around, tie the ladder to the roof.

When moving around on the roof, look out for cracked tiles, skylights and hot water systems.

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which you might like to include are candles, matches, torches, batteries, water, easy snack meals, radio and charged mobile phone.

If you have had past problems with water overflowing into your ceiling it might be time to consider installing an extra downpipe, or gutters with overflow holes in them.

This can prevent water back flowing into the ceiling which can cause it to collapse.

Around the farmFor property owners who have winter creeks running through their property it is a good idea to check that there is not a build-up of debris caught on fences, or across drains.

Blocked drains will cause erosion and localised flooding which might mean your access road may become impassable.

Debris caught in fences can cause further damage to the fence or flood the area.

Fences damaged by storms are also not going to be effective in keeping stock in or out.

Drains and catchment areas on your property should be in good working order before the wet season starts.

If you have areas where drainage lines and earthworks need fixing don’t leave it for another season, get them fixed.

Early intervention in drainage problems can reduce the amount of money and time needed to replace or fix them.

A small problem can soon become a big one.

If you have grain and hay on your property try to get this stored away to ensure that the quality of the feed is not degraded as a result of getting wet. Silo lids should be latched shut.

Protect your animalsLivestock are also at risk when winter weather and storms occur.

When a severe weather warning is current, think about moving livestock to areas which are not prone to flooding, have plenty of shelter, feed and water available.

When the weather is cold and wet, livestock need more food and better shelter to prevent them from dying of exposure.

Stock left in exposed paddocks may be injured if large hail stones fall.

Paddocks which are prone to flooding or water logging should be avoided if possible as animals are at risk of getting stuck in mud.

If animals become stuck in mud and cannot move they run the risk of getting cold and dying.

After a storm has passed it is always good practice to check stock and assess any damage which may have occurred during the inclement weather.

For more informationDepartment of Fire and Emergency Services - dfes.wa.gov.au

Bureau of Meteorology - bom.gov.au

Contact detailsSmall Landholder Information Service (SLIS) agric.wa.gov.au/small_landholder +61 (0) 8 9733 7777 or +61 (0) 8 9780 6100

Important disclaimer The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Agriculture and Food and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it.

© Western Australian Agriculture Authority 2014

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Supporting your success

These areas are often weaker and will give way if put under stress.

If you have a tin roof, walk on the stud line identified by the lines of roofing screws.

This is usually the strongest part of the roof.

For tiled rooves, walk on the section of the tile which overlaps (top and bottom) not in the middle.

Don’t try to do repairs on your roof if there is thunder and lightning

around, not only is there the potential to get struck by lightning, but the roof will also be more difficult to walk on.

It is important to prepare your house and property against winter storms to save yourself time and money in costly repairs.

Strong winds can seriously damage older structures. Check shed supports often and brace or fix if necessary.