As temperatures continue to cool, homeowners who suffered damage from Hurricane Helene face additional obstacles to staying warm.
“The damage to our house was pretty extensive,” said Martinez homeowner Margie Britt. “We had three or four trees fall on our house. “We have three bedrooms upstairs and they all have holes in the ceiling. Our chimney was solved. We also have a room in Florida that was affected. Our entire backyard was destroyed.”
A Florida room is an addition to your home designed to let in natural light and fresh air, and is a popular way to expand your outdoor living space, according to experts at Southern Living.
Britt said it was a challenge to stay warm.
“We stay in our house mainly because we have animals,” Britt said. “And the rental market is so flooded. We have a bedroom downstairs. So we'll settle for just living on the first floor. At first we didn't leave our heating on. But it got so cold that we bit the bullet.
“We also added more layers. We have space heaters. We have installed draft excluders on all doors. We kept our windows and blinds closed to keep the draft down. The space heaters were a lifesaver, but it’s still so cold.”
Although many in Augusta are making do now, one energy expert said those in the same situation as Britt could use this as an opportunity to make some efficiency improvements.
“If homeowners need to replace HVAC equipment, they will likely benefit from higher efficiency equipment,” said Amanda Arnold, a spokeswoman for Georgia Power. “When residents make repairs according to Helene, we recommend that they definitely pay attention to the level of insulation, weatherproofing and other factors that affect efficiency. We are committed to helping customers save money on their energy bills, explore tariff options and get support when needed.”
Safety tips to keep in mind include:
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Keep space heaters away from furniture, curtains, sinks, bathtubs and water. Do not place rugs or rugs over the cable.
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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 the heating before leaving the house or going to bed.
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Look for outlets with loose plugs, exposed wires, or broken panels. Have them repaired by a qualified electrician.
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Use safety covers on all electrical outlets that are accessible to children.
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Only use surge protectors with internal circuit breakers. To prevent overheating, these devices trip the circuit breaker when the power strip is overloaded or shorted to prevent overheating.
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Do not connect a surge protector to an existing surge protector. If the surge protector is not in use, unplug the device.
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Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Never use a generator in a home, basement, shed, or garage, even with doors and windows open. Keep generators outside and away from windows, doors and vents.
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Any electrical cables you use with the generator should be undamaged and suitable for outdoor use.
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Never use charcoal grills or camp stoves indoors. Deaths occurred when consumers burned charcoal or used camp stoves indoors, resulting in deadly levels of carbon monoxide.
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Never heat your home with a gas stove or oven.
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Wear layers and have blankets on hand to provide extra warmth. Layers will keep you warmer than a thick sweater.
Britt's parents built the house where she currently lives in 1981.
“We bought this house when my mother died,” Britt said. “We have been here for almost 13 years. I was here alone with my three dogs and my parrot when the storm hit. It was absolutely terrifying. I could hear the trees hitting our house. It was scary.
“We live in an old, established neighborhood with lots of old trees. We expected wind. But the scale of the impact exceeded our wildest imaginations.”
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Erica Van Buren is a climate reporter for The Augusta Chronicle, part of the USA TODAY Network. Contact her at EVanBuren@gannett.com or on X: @EricaVanBuren32.
This article originally appeared in the Augusta Chronicle: Cold weather will be a problem for Augusta homeowners with Helene damage