Prepare for Hurricane Season

Hurricanes in Georgia? Yes! According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Georgia is at particular risk of being affected by hurricanes because it is a coastal state.  The hurricanes that affect Georgia are severe tropical storms that form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane season lasts from June 1st until November 30th, but the majority of activity is from August until October. Therefore, every state resident and business owner should plan what to do in the event of a hurricane or tropical storm. The following tips can help you keep you and your family safe this hurricane season.

Preparing for a Hurricane

 If you are under a hurricane watch or warning, here are some basic steps to take to prepare for the storm:
· Learn about your community's emergency plans, warning signals, evacuation routes, and locations of emergency shelters. 
· Identify potential home hazards and know how to secure or protect them before the hurricane strikes. Be prepared to turn off electrical power when there is standing water, fallen power lines, or before you evacuate. Turn off gas and water supplies before you evacuate. Secure structurally unstable building materials. 
· Buy a fire extinguisher and make sure your family knows where to find it and how to use it. 
· Locate and secure your important papers, such as insurance policies, wills, licenses, stocks, etc. 
· Post emergency phone numbers at every phone.
· Inform local authorities about any special needs, i.e., elderly or bedridden people, or anyone with a disability. 
· Make plans to ensure your pets' safety http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/petprotect.asp

Champion on Fox News Special Segment: Preventing Allergies in Your Home

Check out Champion's own Jeremy Reets on a Fox News special segment on preventing allergies in your home! This special story is going to air on Fox 5 on March 31st at 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. and on April 1st at 12 p.m.

Here's a few behind the scenes shots:

Atlanta Area Events for April 2015

April 10th: Atlanta Braves Opening Day at Turner Field

April 10th - 12th: Atlanta Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park

April 17th - 19th: Sweetwater 420 Festival at Centennial Olympic Park

April 18th - 26th: Buckhead Restaurant Week

April 24th: Symphony on the Sand at Callaway Gardens

How Can You Reduce Indoor Allergens?

1. Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum! This cannot be stressed enough. You should vacuum at least twice a week, more often if you have pets. Vacuuming helps rid your carpeting of dust, dust mite feces, animal hair and dander, human hair and dead skin, mold spores, dead bugs and abrasive sand and soil. Make sure that you use a vacuum cleaner that has a high efficiency HEPA filtering system and ensure that the brush setting is low enough to agitate the carpet fibers.

2. Don't sweep your hard surface flooring. Sweeping redistributes allergens into the air. Vacuuming your floors, followed by a damp mop or swiffer, will help keep the air your family breathes cleaner.

3. Adopt a no shoes policy in your home. This will keep outdoor pollutants from entering the main areas of your home.

Follow these simple tips, and not only will you have a healthier home, but your carpeting will last longer also. 

It's flood season in Georgia...are you ready?

It's important to know your area's flood risk. If you're not sure, call your local emergency management agency, whose contact information can be found on Ready Georgia's website.

Property insurance does not typically cover flood damage, so talk to your insurance provider about your policy. You may need to consider purchasing additional coverage. If you are in a flood-prone area, the National Flood Insurance Program from FEMA is available to many Georgia communities, and you can find more information at floodsmart.gov.

Here are some important tips to help you prepare for flooding:

• NEVER drive through standing water. It only takes two feet of water to float a full-sized automobile. And, unfortunately more than half of flood victims are in vehicles that are swept away by moving water.
• Stay out of floodwaters, if possible. The water may be contaminated or electrically charged. However, if your car stalls in rapidly rising water, get out immediately and seek higher ground. It only takes six inches of fast-moving water to knock a person off his or her feet.
• Stay away from downed power lines to avoid the risk of electric shock or electrocution.

Don't return to your home until local authorities say it's safe. Even after floodwaters recede, roads and bridges may be weakened and could collapse. Buildings may be unstable, and drinking water may be contaminated. Use common sense and exercise caution. 

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

What Is the Best Carpet for Pets?

Check out this great article about choosing a pet friendly carpet from CRI.org...

Many pet owners who are in the market for flooring might think that carpet is not an option for their homes and four-legged friends, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Our friends at Mohawk have come up with the “Carpet Shopping for Pets” Checklist to make carpet work for your home.

Here is the checklist:

1. Stain resistance and durability

Advancements in manufacturing technology have made carpets better than ever. New product features allow carpet to hold up to the toughest wear from pets and humans. Stain resistance and durability are the most important features when shopping around for carpet for your pets.

2. Carpet fiber 

There are a number of different fibers to choose from in today’s flooring marketplace, many of which are designed to perform well with a pet in the house. The experts at your local flooring specialty store have the knowledge and experience to help you decide on what’s right for you. Here’s some information from the Carpet and Rug Institute website.

READ THE REST OF THE LIST FROM CRI.ORG