HURRICANE: BEFORE THE STORM - POOL PAL STAFF

Have your home preparations made well in advance of any storm. During minor storms we might work through the first winds and rain.

• Leave the pool filter pump running.
• Turn off the pool heater. The wind will cool the pool and cause the heater to use up a lot of gas.
• Stow the life ring and other lightweight objects.
• Lay the shepherd’s hook and the telescoping pole on the ground. Do not put them into the pool.
• Fill the gas tanks in all vehicles. Check tire pressures. Check oil.
• Fill all the portable chlorine jugs.
• Buy several gallons of drinking water, one for each person, for after the storm.
• Order extra calcium hypochlorite, tri-chlor tabs and cal-hypo tabs.
• Charge your cell phone / radios.

SUGGESTIONS FOR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, BEFORE THE STORM

• Remove balcony furniture which may blow down onto the deck and break.
• Stack and secure the furniture and trash cans in the corners of the fenced area or inside the building. To prevent tables from sailing in the wind, consider turning them upside down. If the furniture is plastic, then as a last resort, it may be stored in the pool.  However, do not stow furniture in the pool unless you have someone who will remove it immediately after the storm passes.  Pool Pal personnel will not have the energy to remove furniture from everyone's pool.  We will be worn out just from the work of cleaning out storm debris.  Do not put metal furniture in the pool.  If plastic furniture is in the pool then lock the gates, because swimmers will hurt themselves on it after the storm.
• Advise owners and guests not to swim in the pool after the storm if the power is out. The pool may be the only source of water to use for emergencies. Advise tenants to draw water out of the pool if necessary, but not to get in the pool to swim or bathe thereby contaminating the water so no one else can use it.
• Do not hide the pool cleaning equipment.  Your pool service company will need it immediately after the storm.
   

• Report back to work immediately. Pool service schedules will be prioritized by the following 2 criteria: properties that are occupied and pools that are easiest to restore to routine operations. Be very aware of hazards associated with storm debris, such as downed power lines, unstable structures, unstable roadways, nails underfoot and under tires, and snakes or other critters. Do not drive through road washouts. Stormwater and unchlorinated pools should be considered sources of disease. Do not touch your eyes, mouth, or open sores with contaminated water.
• Stock service truck with routine service stock. Also load several floating chlorinators, extra padlocks, extra rope, extra flagging tape, and a hose-powered leafrake. Make sure you have latex gloves, heavy plastic gloves, plenty of trash bags, electrical tape, closed signs, and a grease pencil. Make sure you have a scoop net and pole for each person in your crew.
• Take pool assessment list and extra paper to write on.
• Assess service needs of each pool. Rank the pools by difficulty of service.
• Your crew can be scooping large debris from the pool while you are assessing service needs.
• If the power is off at a commercial pool, use a floating chlorinator completely filled with tri-chlor, with the dispenser slots fully open.
• Note other damages so that we can inform the property management or owner.
• Pools containing furniture will be serviced last.
   

SUGGESTIONS FOR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, AFTER THE STORM

• Secure the pool.  If fences are blown down, or gates no longer self-close and self-latch, this is a life safety hazard and emergency action must be taken at once to at least provide temporary fencing until repairs can be made.
• Remove furniture from pool immediately. Close the pool if you find glass in pool or other hazards, and report it to Pool Pal.
• Advise owners and guests not to swim in the pool after the storm if the power is out. The pool may be the only source of water to use for emergencies. Advise tenants to draw water out of the pool if necessary, but not to get in the pool to swim or bathe thereby contaminating the water so no one else can use it.
• Guests may help by removing large debris and by using the skimmer net to remove as many leaves and debris as possible.  All pool service companies will be overloaded with work, so guests scooping debris will be a great help and will benefit everyone.
• Fax Pool Pal to advise of arrival date of reservations at pool properties so that we can prioritize those pools to be cleaned first. Also advise if you happen to know that the owner will be here the week during or after the storm.