Not to be alarmist but…we hear there’s a hurricane coming. MORE rain?!? How is it possible? If you’ve driven past the GW Parkway bike trail in the past few days, you’ll see that there’s not one. There’s water everywhere and a good chance there's lots more to come! We have some tips for getting your house ready in case we do get dumped on some more.

• 1. Clear your gutters and drains.

• 2. Secure loose items on patios and porches.

• 3. Bring any valuables you keep in your basement upstairs in the event of flooding.

• 4. Put any valuable papers in the dishwasher — it’s waterproof. This probably goes without saying, but don’t turn it on.

• 5. Charge electronics and back-up batteries.

• 6. Get your flashlights ready. Be sure you have extra batteries. Have candles (and matches!) as backups.

• 7. Don’t buy a ton of food for the freezer in case the power goes out. Arrange the food you have in the fridge and freezer as tightly together as possible. Items will stay cooler, longer.

• 8. Buy bottled water and lots of it.

• 9. Use your washer as a cooler and fill it with ice.

• 10. Test your sump pump to make sure it’s working properly.

• 11. Fill your cars up with gas.

• 12. Download the NOAA app for your phone so you can stay informed about weather updates.

• 13. If you have a gas grill outside, make sure you have enough propane so you can use it to cook if the power is out for a long time.

• 14. If you have a chainsaw, make sure it’s working properly so you can use it to cut down big limbs that have fallen.

• 15. Don’t forget rum and ginger beer for dark and stormies! Perfect for when it’s, well, dark and stormy.

Click here for more tips and contact The Patterson Group if you have any questions. We’re here for you!