As the temperature continues to cool, homeowners who suffered damage from Hurricane Helene face extra obstacles in keeping warm.
“The damage to our home was pretty significant,” said Martinez homeowner Margie Britt. “We had three or four trees fall on our house. “We have three bedrooms upstairs and all of them have holes in the ceilings. Our chimney was knocked loose. We also have a Florida room that was affected. Our entire backyard was wiped out.”
A Florida room is a home addition that’s designed to let in natural light and fresh air, and is a popular way to extend your living space outdoors, according to experts with Southern Living.
Britt said keeping warm has been challenging.
“We’re staying in our house, mainly because we have animals,” said Britt. “And the rental market is so flooded. We have a bedroom downstairs. So we’re making do with just living on the first floor. We weren’t running our heat at first. But it got so cold, we bit the bullet.
” We’ve also been layering up. We got space heaters. We put in draft stops on all the doors. We’ve been keeping our windows and blinds closed to keep the draft down. The space heaters have been a lifesaver, but it’s still so cold.”
Though many in Augusta are making do now, an energy expert said those in the same situation as Britt could use this as an opportunity to make some efficiency upgrades.
“If homeowners must replace HVAC equipment, they will likely benefit from higher efficiency units,” said Amanda Arnold, a spokesperson at Georgia Power. “As residents make any repairs post-Helene, we encourage them to make sure to pay attention to insulation levels, weather-sealing and other factors affecting efficiency. We’re committed to helping customers save money on their energy bills, explore rate options and get assistance when needed.”
Safety tips to keep in mind include:
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Keep space heaters away from furniture, curtains, sinks, tubs and water. Do not lay rugs or carpet over the cord.
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Do not use heaters if the cord is frayed or broken, and do not use an extension cord.
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Turn off heaters before leaving home or going to bed.
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Look for outlets that have loose-fitting plugs, exposed wires or broken plates. Have them fixed by a qualified electrician.
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Use safety covers on all outlets accessible to children.
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Only use surge protectors with internal circuit breakers. To prevent overheating, these units will trip the breaker if the power strip is overloaded or shorted to prevent overheating.
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Do not plug a surge protector into an existing surge protector. When the surge protector is not in use, unplug the unit.
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Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Never use a generator inside a home, basement, shed or garage, even if doors and windows are open. Keep generators outside and far away from windows, doors and vents.
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Any electrical cables you use with the generator should be free of damage and suitable for outdoor use.
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Never use charcoal grills or camp stoves indoors. Deaths have occurred when consumers burned charcoal or used camp stoves in enclosed spaces, which produced lethal levels of carbon monoxide.
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Never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven.
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Wear layers and have blankets available to add additional warmth. Layers will keep you warmer than a bulky sweater.
Britt’s parents built the home in which she currently resides in 1981.
“We purchased this house when my mom passed away,” said Britt. “We’ve been here almost 13 years. I was here by myself with my three dogs and my parrot when the storm hit. It was absolutely terrifying. I could hear the trees slamming into our house. It was scary.
“We live in an old, established neighborhood with a lot of mature trees. We expected the wind. But the level of impact was beyond our wildest imagination.”
This reporting content is supported by a partnership with several funders and Journalism Funding Funding Partners.
Erica Van Buren is the climate change reporter for The Augusta Chronicle, part of the USA TODAY Network. Connect with her at EVanBuren@gannett.com or on X: @EricaVanBuren32.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Cold weather will be a problem for Augusta homeowners with Helene damage