Tag: 2019

Today May 2019

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Good day Traditions,

Here we are closing in on the end of May.  Time certainly does fly.  Kids are out of school in a bit more than a week as well as Memorial Day weekend which is rapidly approaching. Travel safe if you are heading out to enjoy the long weekend.

First off, a big heartfelt thank you to all of our Veterans, active military, first responders, and all of those who have given their lives to ensure the American liberties we all enjoy today are protected and defended. Americans don’t often agree on much these days, but because of your’s and your family’s sacrifices,  we have the freedom that allows all Americans to have a voice and a vote.  There would not be a United States of America without you. Thank you!!!!

I stepped outside this morning and was hit by the first really hot day of the impending Texas summer.  No doubt it’s just around the corner. So, here are some things to be aware of in the coming months.

Schools is out – so everyone needs to be a bit more attentive on the streets of our neighborhood.  Kids don’t always think or look before darting out into the road.  Slow down and lets all have a safe and enjoyable summer break.

HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS JUNE 1ST!!!!  Just a fact of life on the Gulf Coast.

Some of  you may have noticed by now that I am a total weather geek.  If you ever need a subtle reminder of how little we understand our amazing planet, watch the weather for a few days and see how often the weather forecasters get it right.  We should all be aware that once a hurricane or tropical storm enters the Gulf of Mexico, it can hit (or not) land anywhere from Key West to Brownsville.  We generally have a few days notice as forecasters can narrow the impact areas down as it gets closer to land, but those are not the days you need to plan what to do.  That should already have been done.  People go crazy in the last 48 hours prior to a storm making landfall grabbing anything and everything off the shelves of our local stores.  Waiting until the last moment will almost guarantee that you will not be able to get what you need to get through the storm days. Don’t wait, make a plan and a list, get prepared.  There are plenty of resources available to assist you.

KHOU Hurricane Center

NOAA Hurricane Center

I will cover some of the basics in later posts.  I am also willing to discuss your readiness plan with you.  If you would like to do that, use the contact us page and we can plan a readiness session for you.  In the event that you evacuate during a storm, you should notify your neighbors and HOA board.  Yes, so we can watch your property, but also so in the event of a real emergency someone knows if you and your family are home and possibly in need of assistance.

Be safe everyone.  Enjoy your summer.

-Scott

The opinion(s) expressed in this article are my own and does not reflect the position or opinion of anyone else in the Traditions neighborhood or it’s HOA board of directors.

Today April 2019

dot-today-logoApril is here, time to get the yard done, the landscaping in and the house power washed.  Its also the time for the weather to turn a bit more severe.  We all keep a little closer watch on the weather forecast this time of year.  Sudden storms can roll in quickly with hail, winds and flooding.  Recent years have been rough in the Houston area with flooding events, so I thought this months topic would be a bit more personal.  It’s not something most of us think about until it’s to late, Flood Insurance.

Thankfully, our neighborhood is not in a flood plane.  That means we will never flood, right?  Well, I can personally answer that with a resounding no.  Tax Day 2016, my home flooded.  It was not the feet of water that struck some and dominated the news for days.  By that standard, the flooding my family and home endured seems so insignificant. We had about 1/4 of and inch of water in our home.  Enough to ruin all of the flooring as well as needing to remove 1 foot of sheetrock from all the walls downstairs.  Overall, the damage total cost was about $12k.  Without flood insurance, we had no choice but to pay the full cost out of pocket and to save where we could. Thankfully FEMA did declare that event a disaster and helped pay for the clean up to the tune of $4k, but that was no guarantee.  FEMA has some complicated government formula to determine if an “event” is a disaster.  What caused our issue was later discovered to be a partially crushed and inadequate drain pipe, probably installed in the 90s, leading from the south end of Traditions and Princeton Place into the bayou.  This caused the street to not be able to drain quickly enough and 24 inches of rain fell in just over an hour.  The county as now replaced and enlarged this drain pipe, but will it be enough in a similar event, I truly hope to never find out.

I now have flood insurance.  Flood insurance for my home, albeit one of the smallest in the neighborhood, is about $400/year.  It’s a small price to pay to ensure my home will be repaired should it ever happen again.  With construction, the continued urbanization of our area, issues with the drainage along Kuykendaul (that’s another story), yearly hurricane season just around the bend, and the relatively low cost of having it, I believe we all should get it.  Chances are, I will never need it, but as the case with all insurance, it’s good to have when you do.

Call and ask about it today.  It takes a 30 day grace period to become effective, so don’t wait too long.

 

-Scott

The opinion expressed in this article is my own and do not reflect the position or opinion of anyone else in the Traditions neighborhood or it’s HOA board of directors.