Storm preparation is an essential skill, no matter where you live. Hurricanes and tropical storms have become more frequent over time, and are likely to continue doing so.

Storm preparation may be especially important for you if you live in an area where extreme weather is common. These areas include the Gulf Coast of the United States and the Northeastern coast of the United States or Canada.

Keep reading, and we’ll give you 5 helpful tips for how to prepare for a storm and recover from damage.

1. Secure Your Windows

Heavy winds can hurl debris into your windows and expose your home to the elements. Hurricanes, tropical storms, and tornados all come with heavy winds. 

If you know that one of those storms is headed your way, you should board up your windows if possible. You can buy plywood boards at your local hardware store. 

You should look for wooden boards as soon as you find out about a storm, in case everyone else has the same idea you do. 

In case your boards don’t do the trick, make sure you know where to go for window glass repair.

2. Prepare for a Power Outage

Many types of weather events can cause power outages. In rural areas, this is especially common. 

You should be as prepared for a power outage as you can be. Make sure you have portable chargers, and that all your devices are fully charged prior to the start of a storm. 

If you can, your safest option is to have a power generator that you can use to power larger appliances. If you cannot purchase a generator, portable chargers are a good compromise. 

3. Protect Your Valuable Possessions 

Basements are often the first area of your home to sustain water damage during a storm. if you have valuable or sentimental items stored in your basement, you should move them to higher ground before a storm. 

If you don’t have a garage, you should also consider finding an area far away to park your car during the storm. 

Anything made of metal, wood, or paper is especially vulnerable to storm damage.

4. Stock up on Food and Supplies

Before a storm hits, you should always stock up on nonperishable food items. This means food items that can last a long time and do not need to be refrigerated. 

Canned goods are your best friend. They will take years to spoil, and you can often eat them without heating anything up. 

Even if a storm is only supposed to last for a few days, you should get some food that does not have to be refrigerated. Remember, you might lose power!

Don’t Skimp on Storm Preparation

Now that you have a few simple storm preparation tips under your belt, you can better protect your home from extreme weather. Next time you hear that a storm is coming your way, make sure you follow these storm preparedness tips. 

Remember this handy rhyme: it’s better to be overprepared than to be caught unawares!

For more tips for homeowners, check out the rest of our blog!

98 percent of basements in the U.S. will suffer water damage at least once in their lifetime.

A flooded basement is caused by a leak in the foundation, which can be caused by soggy ground around your home, or it could be due to faulty plumbing. It is, therefore, important that you check for water damage regularly near the base of your home.

If your basement flooded recently, here are some things you can do to mitigate damages and quickly deal with the issue:

Cut Off the Power Supply To the Basement

When you experience basement floods, the first thing to do is deal with safety matters.

Water in the basement is an electrical hazard for house occupants and should be eliminated immediately. If you can access the circuit breaker, turn off the supply. If you’re unable, call in an electrician immediately.

Any electronic component that has come into contact with water is risky to use. So, ensure that the electrician checks everything before you can restore the power supply.

Pump Out the Water

After you’ve ensured your safety, it’s time to focus on water removal.

You must remove as much excess water from the basement as possible. This will prevent mold growth and make any miscellaneous cleanup easier in the long run. If you don’t have a sump pump, call in an emergency plumber immediately.

Remove Damp Items From Your Basement

You should remove all damp items such as books and papers from the basement. These can be placed in plastic bags or other water-resistant containers.

Also, don’t forget to move valuable electronics to higher ground.

Wipe Away Dirt and Grime with a Wet Vacuum Cleaner

If you have a wet vacuum cleaner, use this equipment to lift away dirt and grime that may have accumulated on your flooring after the flooding incident.

Do not use any cleaning products while you are doing this because they could react with the water and cause additional damage to your belongings in the basement.

Begin Repairs Immediately After You’ve Pumped Out Water

If you’ve managed to remove excess water from the basement relatively quickly, then you should begin repairs for flood prevention.

If there are cracks in your foundation, seek an emergency foundation repair service immediately. This will prevent more water damage and other problems with your home’s structural integrity.

Call in Mold Removal Services There Is Mold in the Basement

If you see mold in your basement after a flooding incident, do not attempt to remove it. This is because mold remediation requires specialized equipment and techniques and could further damage your property.

You can call upon local cleaning and restoration services instead to mitigate potential damage and give your home back its former glory.

Call Your Home Warranty Provider

If your home warranty provider covers flooding incidents, be sure to get in touch with them immediately. You may have many things to worry about, but if you are insured for flooding damages, there’s no need to fret.

If this is news to you, kindly read this guide: Home Warranties: How Much & How to Choose.

Learn How To Deal With Flooded Basement

Flooding may be an aggravating occurrence, but you can take steps to limit damage in your home. If you’re proactive about the situation, you can quickly minimize any damage and get back on track with life.

We hope that this article will help you deal with a flooded basement. If you want to read more interesting content, keep browsing our blog.

When running a business, one of the most important aspects of growing and expanding that business is brand recognition. In fact, according to research, 89 percent of marketing professionals have noted brand awareness as their top priority, even before sales. 

What better way to spread brand awareness than to have a logo that can resonate with consumers. Big brands like Pepsi realize the benefits of having a logo that connects with customers, which is why they were willing to pay a million dollars for an upgraded logo design.

2020 was a defining year for many companies, keep reading to discover the 2020 logo design trends that significantly impact the way we view logos. 

1. Simplistic

In a world that is becoming seemingly more complex every day, one logo design trend has stood out among the rest – simple yet effective. Many of these logo designs are homemade and hand-drawn to give them that minimalist, welcoming feel. 

A few examples of a simple logo design include:

• Apple
• Nike
• The North Face
• And Target

Although these types of logos are simple in nature, it doesn’t mean they lack creativity or the ability to catch consumers’ attention. Many times simple logo designs can give the business personality and allow consumers to connect with the brand.

2. Gradient

Gradients were one of the biggest trending logo designs in 2020 that are expected to continue its popularity in the coming years. Gradient designs blend certain colors gradually to produce stunning color gradients capable of grabbing users’ attention. 

Popular companies that have used gradient logo designs include:

• Instagram
• Firefox
• Apple Music
• And Shazam

Gradient logo designs give the company a fun, modern look that can attract consumers from all over. Using specific color blends can also help users distinguish the brand, giving them an advantage over competitors. 

3. Animated

Animated logos have become one of the latest logo design trends that help relay the companies message to users. The corporate world is becoming increasingly reliant on animation and visual content to communicate information to its user base. 

Companies that use animation in their current logo designs include:

• Zoom
• Google
• Ikea
• And Intel

Using animated logos gives companies the ability to tell users what they are all about in a simple visual representation. As companies build their digital presence, visuals are becoming an increasingly popular way to engage potential users.

4. Creative Lettering

Creative typography was one of the most popular logo design trends in 2020 that’s expected to continue to shine in the next few years. With many industries becoming flooded with competition, businesses are looking for different ways to stand out. One way companies are having success is with custom creative lettering for their logo design. 

Utilizing a creative logo design can give a company uniqueness and help them stand apart from the competition. If you’re looking to give your business a custom, unique look, head over to Arrowmailservice.com for all your professional printing needs.

Looking to Take Advantage of the 2020 Logo Design Trends?

Creating a custom logo for your business will give it an instant upgrade and allow consumers to remember the brand. By spreading brand awareness, you can solidify your companies position in its industry for years to come. The only question now is which trending logo design will you choose?

If you’re looking to get ahead of the trend with your logo design, check out the rest of our website for tools and resources to help get you started.

Hosting a good dinner party is one of the true marks of adulthood. There’s no better feeling than inviting your friends into your home, serving them a thoughtful meal, and connecting with them through conversation.

But if you’ve never done it before, you might be feeling a little lost in the weeds.

Not to worry. The following guide will not just tell you how to host a dinner party, but how to host a great dinner party. Before you know it, your friends will be asking you for all your dinner party tips.

Establish the Theme

Not every dinner party needs to have a theme, but you should always consider the intention behind a dinner party. Is it someone’s birthday? Did your BFF just get a big promotion?

If there is a reason to celebrate, consider making it the focus. Other great themes include book club dinner parties, holiday dinner parties, or seasonal themes like “Autumn Harvest.”

Basically, anything that gives you and your loved ones a reason to come together.

Prepare the Scene

You’ve probably already thought to deep-clean the house, but there are a couple of key problem areas that you should focus on.

Bear in mind that over the course of the evening, your guests will generate trash and dirty dishes. So before any of your guests arrive, make sure your trash and recycling receptacles are completely empty. You don’t want to take out an overflowing trash can in the middle of your party.

Also, ensure that your dishwasher is empty. That way, you can stack in dirty dishes as soon as they appear, minimizing your clean up and keeping your kitchen looking fresh during the party.

Nail the Decor

An attractive table spread is critically important when planning a dinner party. Consider investing in a nice tablecloth that you can break out on special occasions. 

Select a material that will be easy to clean for multiple uses, but will always look new. Polyester tablecloths are great for the frequent host.

Next, choose a centerpiece. As it says in the name, the centerpiece is meant to draw your eye in. You want it to be good.

The best centerpieces reflect the spirit of the times. If it’s summer, a bouquet of sunflowers is lovely. In the winter, incorporate some holly with red berries. 

You can pick up any number of good centerpieces at the store, but you can just as easily make one from what’s available in your garden or in the neighborhood.

If you want to achieve an elegant spread, all of your dishware has to match. But it’s okay, you don’t have to buy top quality dishes for everything. That can get expensive really fast.

Consider spending a little bit more on nice wine glasses and nice silverware. Fine wine glasses can literally improve the wine drinking experience, so it’s a good thing to spend money on.

You don’t need to spend as much on plates, bowls, or napkins. Generics will look nice and will be just as durable.

Consider the Menu

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a celebrity chef in order to host a good dinner party. But you do need to carefully consider what to serve.

The main course should be something that you can make in large quantities without too much effort. Pasta dishes are a good example of something that can be made for a lot of people. Plus, they are always a crowd favorite.

But you’ll also want to include hors d’oeuvres and dessert. Cheese plates work well, but make sure you don’t let your guests fill up on brie and charcuterie. 

Prepare as much in advance as possible, so you don’t have to do much actual cooking when your guests are present. You are most likely to burn a ham or forget an ingredient when you’re trying to host while you cook.

Another important aspect of planning the menu is to consider any dietary restrictions in your group. If you don’t know your guests that well, be sure to ask them when they accept your invitation. You don’t want to make a chicken alfredo to serve, only to realize that one of your friends doesn’t eat meat.

If you are having more than 6 or 8 people at your party, feel free to make it a potluck. Potlucks are fun because they let everybody participate in creating the meal together. But as the host, it’s on you to make sure you don’t end up with everybody bringing the same thing.

Determine the Ambiance

Many people who are wondering how to host a dinner party haven’t considered ambiance. The ambiance is all in the details.

If you have never thought about creating ambiance before, make notes next time you’re over at someone else’s home. What do they do to set the mood?

Candles are an excellent go-to choice. Try picking scents that complement the theme or tone of your dinner party. For example, if you’re having people over for a Halloween dinner, try a “candy apple” scented candle.

Place the candles strategically. Leaving one burning in the bathroom is a great idea. Just remember to put it out when the party is done.

Plan Some Activities

Your dinner party doesn’t need a hard and fast agenda, but it will help you host if you plan out some activities. Activities offer structure, and the opportunity to keep the conversation fresh.

Lawn games like bocce ball are excellent in the summer. For a group of five or six people, try a board or card game. Pick something accessible, that everyone can be a part of.

How to Host a Dinner Party Like a Pro

Hosting a dinner party for the first time can be intimidating. But with the right guidance, you’ll look like an old pro. Remember that there are so many ways you can make your evening unique, and the most important thing is to have fun with your friends.

Looking for more tips on how to host a dinner party? Check out our Lifestyle section.