Tag: double wide manufactured homes safe in tornado

How Mobile Home Parks Handle Hurricane Evacuations
Hurricane evacuations in mobile home parks require careful planning and quick action to ensure safety. Residents face unique challenges due to the construction of mobile homes and their vulnerability to high winds. Park managers, residents, and local officials work together to create and execute evacuation plans.

The Importance of Preparedness in Mobile Home Parks

Preparedness is key for mobile home parks in hurricane-prone areas. Mobile homes are more susceptible to wind damage compared to traditional homes. Additionally, their lightweight structure makes them unsafe during hurricanes. Evacuating residents early can save lives and reduce injuries.

To prepare for hurricanes, mobile home parks often:
- Develop detailed evacuation plans
- Share emergency information with residents
- Coordinate with local authorities and shelters
These steps ensure that everyone knows what to do before a storm arrives.

How Mobile Home Parks Create Evacuation Plans

Identifying Local Risks

Park managers assess the risks specific to their location. This includes understanding flood zones, storm surge levels, and evacuation routes. By knowing these risks, parks can create effective plans tailored to their community.

Communication With Residents

Clear communication helps residents stay informed and prepared. Many parks share updates with flyers, text alerts, and social media. Regular meetings before hurricane season also give residents a chance to ask questions.

Designating Emergency Contacts

Mobile home parks often assign emergency coordinators to help residents during evacuations. These individuals provide guidance, share resources, and address concerns.

Steps Residents Take During Hurricane Evacuations

Residents play an active role in hurricane evacuations. Understanding evacuation procedures and acting promptly are essential for safety.

Preparing Emergency Kits

Residents should have emergency kits ready before hurricane season begins. Kits typically include:
- Non-perishable food and water for three days
- Flashlights, batteries, and a portable radio
- Medications, first aid supplies, and important documents
Having these items on hand ensures residents are ready to leave quickly.

Securing Mobile Homes

Before leaving, residents can take steps to reduce damage to their homes. These include:
- Anchoring the mobile home to its foundation
- Boarding up windows with plywood
- Securing outdoor furniture and loose items
These precautions protect the property and minimize debris during the storm.

Following Evacuation Routes

Residents should follow designated evacuation routes to reach safe locations. These routes are chosen to avoid areas at high risk of flooding or storm surge. Park managers often provide maps to guide residents.

Coordination With Local Authorities

Mobile home parks collaborate with local emergency services to execute evacuation plans effectively. Coordination helps ensure that residents have access to transportation, shelters, and real-time updates.

Providing Shelters

Many counties designate shelters for mobile home residents during hurricanes. These shelters are reinforced to withstand strong winds and heavy rain. Some parks even arrange transportation to these facilities for residents without vehicles.

Sharing Real-Time Updates

Local authorities update storm conditions, road closures, and shelter availability. Parks relay this information to residents using their communication systems.

Challenges in Mobile Home Park Evacuations

Despite thorough planning, evacuations can face several challenges. Understanding these issues helps parks improve their strategies for future storms.

Lack of Transportation

Not all residents have access to reliable transportation. This can delay evacuations and put lives at risk. Parks often address this by coordinating buses or shuttles.

Language Barriers

In some communities, language barriers can hinder communication. Providing evacuation instructions in multiple languages ensures all residents understand the plan.

Reluctance to Evacuate

Some residents hesitate to leave their homes due to concerns about theft or property damage. Educating residents about the risks of staying behind helps address these fears.

Recovery Efforts After a Hurricane

Once the storm passes, recovery efforts begin. Mobile home parks work to repair damage, restore utilities, and help residents return safely.

Assessing Damage

Park managers inspect the property to identify structural damage, flooding, or debris. This assessment determines the steps needed for repairs.

Restoring Utilities

Restoring power, water, and other utilities is a priority after hurricanes. Parks often work with local providers to expedite this process.

Assisting Residents

Many parks offer support to residents during recovery. This includes connecting them with disaster relief programs, temporary housing, and counseling services.

Tips for Improving Hurricane Evacuation Plans

Mobile home parks can enhance their evacuation strategies by focusing on these areas:
- Early preparation: Start planning before hurricane season begins.
- Regular drills: Practice evacuation procedures with residents to improve readiness.
- Updated communication tools: Use multiple channels to share updates quickly.
- Partnerships with local agencies: Build relationships with emergency services to access resources.
Frequently Asked Questions

Are Mobile Home Residents Required to Evacuate?

Yes, in many cases, local authorities mandate evacuations for mobile home residents during hurricanes. These homes cannot withstand hurricane-force winds.

How Long Does an Evacuation Typically Last?

Evacuations can last several days, depending on the severity of the storm and the time needed for recovery.

What Happens if a Resident Chooses Not to Evacuate?

Residents who stay behind during mandatory evacuations may face fines or limited access to emergency services.

Final Thoughts on Hurricane Evacuations

Hurricane evacuations in mobile home parks involve coordination, preparation, and clear communication. Park managers, residents, and local authorities can minimize risks and ensure safety by working together. With a focus on readiness and quick action, mobile home communities can weather the storm effectively.

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January 8, 2025
How to Prepare Your Mobile Home for Severe Weather
Living in a mobile home offers many advantages, from flexibility and affordability to a sense of community. However, mobile homes can also be more vulnerable to severe weather conditions compared to traditional houses. Whether it’s hurricanes, tornadoes, or heavy storms, it’s crucial to take proactive measures to protect your mobile home and ensure the safety of yourself and your family. In this guide, we’ll explore essential steps to prepare your mobile home for a storm, helping you stay safe and minimize potential damage.

Understanding the Risks

Before diving into storm preparation, it’s essential to understand the specific risks that mobile homes face during severe weather. Mobile homes are more susceptible to damage due to their lightweight construction and elevated vulnerability to high winds. Additionally, their elevated position makes them prone to tipping over or suffering structural damage during storms, especially if they’re not properly anchored.

Create a Plan

The first step in preparing your mobile home for a storm is to create a comprehensive emergency plan. This plan should outline evacuation routes, designated shelter areas within your home, and emergency contacts. Ensure that all family members know the plan and practice emergency drills regularly.

Secure Outdoor Items

Before a storm hits, secure any outdoor items that could become projectiles in high winds. This includes patio furniture, gardening tools, and outdoor decorations. Store these items in a secure location, such as a garage or shed, or use straps and anchors to secure them in place.

Reinforce Doors and Windows

Doors and windows are vulnerable points in any structure during a storm. To reinforce them:
- Install storm shutters or plywood over windows to protect against flying debris.
- Ensure that exterior doors are equipped with deadbolts and sturdy locks.
- Consider installing storm-resistant doors and windows designed to withstand high winds and impacts.
Anchor Your Mobile Home

Proper anchoring is crucial for securing your mobile home during a storm. If your home is not already anchored, consider hiring a professional to install ground anchors or tie-downs. These devices secure the home to the ground, reducing the risk of it being lifted or overturned by strong winds.

Trim Trees and Shrubs

Overhanging branches and trees near your mobile home can pose a significant risk during a storm. Trim back any branches that could potentially fall onto your home, causing damage or injury. Additionally, remove any dead or weak trees that could topple over in high winds.

Inspect the Roof

Regular roof maintenance is essential for protecting your mobile home from water damage during storms. Inspect the roof for loose or damaged shingles, holes, or other signs of damage. Repair any issues promptly to prevent water infiltration during heavy rainfall.

Reinforce Skirting

Skirting around the base of your mobile home helps protect against pests and insulation, but it can also be vulnerable to damage during storms. Ensure that the skirting is securely attached and in good condition. Consider reinforcing it with additional anchors or braces to prevent it from being torn away by strong winds.

Stock Up on Supplies

In the event of a severe storm or hurricane, access to essential supplies may be limited. Stock up on non-perishable food, water, medications, and other necessities ahead of time. Additionally, prepare an emergency kit that includes flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, and other essentials.

Stay Informed

Stay informed about weather conditions in your area by monitoring local news, weather forecasts, and official alerts from emergency management agencies. Sign up for weather alerts on your mobile phone and have a battery-powered radio on hand for updates in case of power outages.

Evacuation Plan

If local authorities issue an evacuation order, follow their instructions promptly. Plan a designated evacuation route in advance and ensure your vehicle is fueled and in good working condition. Remember to take your emergency kit, essential documents, and pets.

Conclusion

Preparing your mobile home for a storm requires careful planning and proactive measures to minimize potential damage and ensure the safety of yourself and your family. By creating an emergency plan, securing outdoor items, reinforcing doors and windows, anchoring your home, trimming trees and shrubs, inspecting the roof, reinforcing skirting, stocking up on supplies, staying informed, and having an evacuation plan in place, you can weather the storm with confidence.

Remember, the key to surviving severe weather is preparation and vigilance. By taking these steps, you can protect your mobile home and loved ones from the dangers of storms and hurricanes, ensuring peace of mind during uncertain times.

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February 20, 2024
2 Easy Ways To Prepare Your Mobile Home For A Storm!
One of many questions beginner mobile homeowners always ask is how to prepare a mobile home against storms and any type of natural disaster, including strong winds.

Whether it is a hurricane, thunderstorm, or snow storm eventually a mobile homeowner will have to bunker down and hope for the best regarding weather conditions.

In states like Florida, where a storm hits at least once every three years, preparation for the worst is of the utmost importance. Mobile homes are built differently than conventional houses, and their thinner walls can cause big trouble for homeowners when a storm hits and there is a lack of preparation.

In order to prepare for those days ahead, one needs to understand exactly how to prepare their mobile homes and what are the easiest ways to protect their homes from anything a storm may throw at them.

Mobile home in Florida

When a storm or hurricane is forecast, make sure to know the exact path of the storm and how strong it will be before jumping into action. Spending a lot of time on preparation when the storm is only Category 1 can be a waste of time. An accurate weather forecast and total understanding are needed before you prepare.

For sure no preparation is perfect and flawless. Expect to have minor loose ends but focusing only on the most important things greatly increases your chance of success. Thus, we suggest preparing the following two simple but important things.
1. Utilize Storm Shutters
Most mobile homes will come standard equipped with storm shutters over every major window in the home. These shutters are oftentimes left open and propped up to help bring in additional natural light into the mobile home. While this is great most times of year make sure you do not forget that these shutters do provide a very valuable way to protect your mobile home!

Taking your mobile home storm shutters “down” so that they protect the windows is a very simple and direct process.

These shutters are held up by an Allen wrench that sits inside a pre-drilled hole in the arm of the shutter.

Taking these out is a very simple process, but make sure you either have someone else hold the shutter or an extra hand to catch the shutter should it fall down!

When under the shutter dislodge the Allen wrench from each shutter arm and slowly lower the shutter all the way down. Once here, take a wing nut to screw the shutter down and into place.

That is all there is to it!

We at The Mobile Home Dealer strongly suggest, when doing this, not to twist the wing nut down too hard as this may lead to not being able to get it off and not allowing you to prop the shutter back up once the storm has come and gone!

2. Look For Loose Items Around Home

Make sure you thoroughly walk around your mobile home property and look for any loose items such as flower planters, flags, or wind chimes to name a few. Each one of these items could get caught up in a storm and turn these lovely items into projectile items that could harm you or your neighbor’s mobile home!

Make sure to take some time and look for anything that can come off the property or that is loosely attached to the mobile home itself and remove them before a storm comes to town.

Taking these items off of your property and placing them either inside your mobile home or within the storage shed that most mobile homes have will help ensure that not only your home but your neighbor’s homes stay safe throughout the storm.

Wall items, such as glasses, decorations, paintings, and similar objects, must also be removed. Not only can these fly and hit someone in no time, but you also don’t want to damage these precious items. Keep them safe and put them back in their original locations later when the storm passes.

By taking these simple, quick, and easy precautions when preparing your mobile home for a storm, you will be well on your way to protecting your home from any storm and looking forward to sunnier days ahead!

They say prevention is better than cure, and preparing your mobile home for a natural disaster is no different. Sometimes, an effortless act can prevent structural and property loss, injuries, and even death.

Stay inside your house during the storm

Sarasota Mobile Home

Now that your mobile home is prepared to take on a storm, stay inside your house in a safe place or in the bunker (if you have one). There are lots of stories of people being hit by flying objects and killed or badly injured. You don’t want this to happen to you or your family members.

Include enough food and water in your preparation. Bottled drinking water and some canned foods that can last for at least two days are ideal. The storm may last only for a few minutes but the effect could sometimes last for days and even months.

Lastly, as mobile homeowners, we must be extra diligent in preparing our homes for storms. Mobile homes are more susceptible to damage from high winds than traditional homes, so it’s important to take the necessary precautions to protect your property. Here are some easy ways to prepare your mobile home for a storm:
1. Secure loose items around your home. Make sure any outdoor furniture or decorations are securely fastened down. Anything that could become a projectile in high winds should be stored away safely.
2. Bring in any outside plants or potted trees. Loose dirt and debris can cause damage when it’s blown around, so it’s best to bring these items inside until the storm has passed.
3. Check your windows and doors to ensure they’re properly sealed and secured. Strong winds can cause even small gaps to let in water and debris, so it’s important to ensure everything is tightly sealed before a storm hits.
4. Have an emergency kit ready with supplies like food, water, flashlights, and first aid supplies. If you lose power or must evacuate your home, you’ll be glad you have this essential kit.
5. Familiarize yourself with your insurance policy so you know what coverage you have in case of damage from a storm. Many policies have provisions for mobile homes that may not be included in standard homeowners’ insurance policies, so it’s important to know what protections you have in place.
This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer. We help mobile home Buyers and Sellers improve their lives.

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September 26, 2023
2 Common Mobile Home Problems And How You Can Prevent Them!
What’s going on, everybody?! 2 Common Mobile Home Problems And How You Can Prevent Them!

This is Mark with The Mobile Home Dealer.

I want to thank you for taking a few minutes out of your busy day to learn about two of the more common problems that older mobile homes have and what you can do as a preventative measure to ensure if these problems do occur in your home how to mitigate them so that a small issue does not turn into a large disaster!

The first problem we want to discuss today is of water damage to your mobile home.

Water damage can happen in one of two ways.

First, the issue can start through a small leak in your roof that then causes moisture damage to the rest of your home.

Many times mobile home roofs have a 25 to 30-year warranty. Once this time is up, a new roof will need to be placed on top of the current roof in order to keep your house nice and dry. You will be able to get a few extra years out of that roof if you take proper precautions, such as sealing your roof every few years. Plan to replace that roof in your mobile home if your house is older than 30 years old and you got the original one on it.

The second way water damage can occur is through the flooring system of your mobile home.

Mobile homes have what is called a vapor barrier that is installed under the base of the home. If you have never seen one, it kind of looks like a large black trash bag that is attached to the bottom part of your house. The purpose of a vapor barrier is to keep the water that comes out of the ground away from your flooring components and flooring system keeping them nice and dry. If the vapor barrier is non-existent or seriously damage you may want to consider replacing it or you could have soft spots start to develop throughout your floors.

Easy ways to fix these common issues are to make sure you get your roof inspected for leaks and if leaks are found to contact a licensed professional in order to do a patch job or to redo the entire roof.

If you have soft spots beginning to emerge in your flooring then you might want to call a licensed professional to get that vapor barrier checked out so it is in proper working order and keeping the moisture away from your home’s flooring system.

The second problem that we see in older mobile homes is termite damage.

Termite damage can begin in the flooring, the subflooring, or the structure of the mobile home. If not handled quickly, then these darn little termites can grow their colonies extremely fast and really cause your home some serious problems.

The base of your mobile home structure is wood. You have wood floors, and wood subfloors, the walls are wood based and the structural components underneath your roof are going to be wood. If you find that you have issues with termites it is not the end of the world! In fact, handling termites on a large scale is taken care of on a regular basis in most mobile home parks on a regular basis.

If your home has termite issues, then termite tenting may be needing to be done. During the tenting process, the home will be covered in a large tarp for three to four days, a licensed professional will go in and deep clean your home getting rid of all those termites.

One way to prevent a lot of these termite issues is to make sure that you keep up with your quarterly termite spraying service. This service is offered by several local professionals and will provide the first line of defense against any serious termite infestation that may occur in your mobile home in the future.

If you are saving from hiring a termite service, another way is to check all wooden parts of your house directly attached to the ground. Wooden parts touching the ground especially when wet attract termites. Termites usually don’t climb through concrete or metal. You can prevent this by spraying common anti-termite chemicals, or sometimes, even used oil will do the job.

There are other small-to-big problems that you may experience inside and outside your mobile home and disregarding these small issues could result in costly repair and maintenance in the future.

It is always recommended that as a mobile homeowner, you should not disregard simple issues like small water leaks, molds, and other irregularities.

Some mobile homeowners are forced to sell their homes for a cheaper price because there is a lot to repair and these repair costs always pull down the mobile home’s selling price. It is also hard to find buyers who are willing to spend thousands of dollars on repairs and extra waiting time while the house is undergoing renovation.

A properly-maintained mobile home always demands a higher selling price when you decide to sell your house in the very near future.

When you own a mobile home, you have a valuable asset that can be sold for a higher price if it is properly maintained. By taking care of your mobile home and keeping it in good condition, you will be able to sell it for a higher price when you decide to sell it in the future. To keep your mobile home in good condition, you should regularly clean it and perform any necessary repairs. You should also keep the exterior of your mobile home clean and free from debris. If you take care of your mobile home, it will continue to look its best and demand a higher selling price when you decide to sell it.

Another one of the most common mobile home problems is leaks. Mobile homes are particularly susceptible to leaks because they are often not as well insulated as traditional homes. This can lead to water damage and mold growth. To prevent leaks, make sure to check your mobile home regularly for any signs of water damage and repair any leaks immediately.

Another common problem with mobile homes is that they can be difficult to heat and cool evenly. This is due to the fact that mobile homes are often smaller than traditional homes and have less insulation. As a result, you may find that your mobile home is too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. To combat this, you can invest in a good quality space heater or air conditioner.

Finally, another common mobile home problem is that it can be difficult to keep clean. This is because dust and dirt can easily build up on the surfaces of your mobile home. To keep your mobile home clean, make sure to vacuum and dust regularly. You may also want to consider investing in a portable air purifier to help keep the air inside your mobile home clean and fresh.

We hope this has given you a brief idea of the major issues that can happen to your home and how to prevent them.

Guys, this is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 25, 2023
Aretta Asks, “What Should Sarasota Mobile Home Owners Do In Bad Weather?
What Should Sarasota Mobile Home Owners Do In Bad Weather Let’s discuss and find out about this very important topic.

Hey Guys!

Today’s question for our blog was sent to us through one of our Facebook friends, Aretta Burkhead.

She asked, “Mark, could you please cover some of the dos and don’ts of mobile homes in bad weather?”

Sure, Aretta, I’d be happy to do so. Thanks a lot for the question. Now guys, just so you know, if you are interested in having us cover a particular topic any time, just connect with us through our website at sellmobilehome.com, or through our Facebook as Aretta did, and just give us a holler, let us know what you want us to discuss. We’d be more than happy to do so.

When discussing things to deal with mobile homes and bad weather like today, when we have a hurricane coming over us, I will discuss the obvious issue we are dealing with today and every other day living down here in Florida is hurricanes and the heavy rain and heavy wind that comes with them.

So let’s first discuss the importance of identifying and locating your hurricane tie-downs in your mobile home.

Now in this mobile home, you’ll see they’re right down here, right by the sidestep. You want to make sure that you know exactly where these anchors are. We want to make sure that you know where they are and that they’re fully functional because they do exactly that. They tie the home down should a hurricane come through and it prevents your house from blowing away. That’s the first thing.

After a heavy rain storm, Aretta, you want to make sure that you take a look at the ceiling of the mobile home and see if you find any wet spots.

Wet spots are going to have an off-whitish color on the ceiling. You’re always going to want to look for these all the time in any mobile home. These spots will initially look just like a plain wet spot, but if you don’t get to them early enough, they’re eventually going to look like a coffee stain on a white shirt.

Hopefully, you never see these on your ceiling, but if you do, you must address them right away.

If you do not tend to these then wet spots can lead to a sagging ceiling or, worse yet, they can leak through the roof onto the drywall enough that water will pool up between the drywall and the roof, and an extreme situation, it’ll break after sagging so far and will have the ceiling fall in on it.

I’ve been in several mobile homes where I’ve seen this, and it’s a shame because a lot of times that could have just been fixed by identifying the wet spot in the first place.

Now Aretta, mobile homes are much stronger than what people a lot of times give them credit for.

The reason for this is when a mobile home is made in a factory and shipped to another state for sale, it needs to meet the wind zone or snow load zone for the location that it’s being shipped to.

So for instance, if the home you bought has always been located in the same park in Florida since it left the factory, then chances are your home will be able to handle the winds that come through your area without much of an issue, and that’s required by the manufacturer when it leaves the factory.

And the snow load zone, for all you northerners who follow us, well, thank goodness we don’t have to worry about that down here, but the same idea applies there as well.

In addition to the above suggestions, being prepared before bad weather comes is essential. Here are some weather preparedness tips every mobile homeowner should know.

Secure everything that might be outside your mobile home. This includes lawn furniture, portable carport, bikes, toys, ornaments, and the like. These things can fly and hit your windows and can even hurt other people.

Make sure to have an active insurance policy. The state of Florida is always hit by storms and having active insurance will give you additional peace of mind.

Make sure your mobile home anchors are properly installed and meet the manufacturer’s requirements.

A storm cellar is not required but having one makes your life safer during the storm. A storm cellar is an underground structure and can cost $5,000”

Have a disaster preparedness kit and a NOAA weather radio. The radio will alert you any time of day if a tornado or hurricane is coming.

Make an escape plan. Even if you think that you are fully prepared, having an escape plan when things get out of hand is better than nothing.

Thanks again for your question Aretta. I hope this was helpful to you!

Lastly, Sarasota is known for its beautiful weather, but even paradise has its rainy days. If you find yourself stuck indoors during a storm, there are still plenty of things to do around town.

Here are some ideas to help make the most of a bad weather day in Sarasota:
- Visit one of Sarasota’s many museums, like the Ringling Museum of Art or the Florida Maritime Museum.
- Take a walk or bike ride through one of the city’s many parks, like Selby Gardens or Payne Park.
- Check out a local bookstore or coffee shop that you’ve been meaning to explore.
- Spend some time getting organized and cleaning your home or office.
- Catch up on some reading, either for pleasure or work.
- Plan your next vacation! Use the extra time indoors to start researching and booking your next getaway.
No matter what you end up doing on a rainy day in Sarasota, remember to take some time to relax and enjoy the downtime.

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer, and we help mobile home buyers and sellers get to a better place in life.

The Mobile Home Dealer are licensed mobile home broker in Sarasota Florida and the surrounding areas. We provide professional buy and/or sell assistance to our clients. If you have any questions, please contact us by clicking this link. You may also visit our Facebook Page and send us a message.

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September 22, 2023