OrlandoHomeShopper's Blog

What Happens After Irma?

Hurricane Irma has (slowly) come and gone – what now?

– Check in with family and friends, if you haven’t already done so.

– Keep away from loose or dangling power lines & report any found to the power company immediately.

– If your power went out, check your refrigerated food for spoilage. Throw out any food if you have any doubt over whether it is spoiled.
*If your power hasn’t been restored, turn off major appliances to reduce the chances of damaging in the case of a power surge.

– Seek professional help for electrical repairs.

– Wear protective clothing and be cautious when cleaning up to avoid injury.

– Obey curfews and the authorities. They are there for your protection.

– Insurance Claims:
*Take photos of any damage to your home and vehicles
*Call your insurance companies as soon as possible and keep your claim number handy
*Damage to your car from downed trees and flooding should be covered by the comprehensive portion of your auto insurance
*Keep receipts for expenses related to immediate repairs you had to make to secure your homes and for any living expenses if your home is not livable
*Be wary of people claiming to be insurance adjusters and beware of robocalls asking for insurance payments or other information.
*Do not sign over claims benefits or sign Assignment of Benefits from any contractors  *If you have no insurance, check nonprofit groups and DisasterAssistance.gov (run by FEMA) to see if you qualify for aid

– Sometime in the next few months, while the memory of Hurricane Irma is still fresh, plan ahead for the next one! You can never be too prepared.

Preparing for Hurricane Irma

I’ve been reading a lot of great posts on hurricane preparation tips, so I thought I’d compile them all in one convenient place for everyone to share! MOST IMPORTANTLY: In the midst of chaos, remember that we are all going through this and to treat others with respect and decency.

Preparation Tips

Have a packed “go bag” for the family in case you must leave in an emergency, which should include some water, food, and copies of important documents.

Food
– You should have at least a 3 day supply (per person) of non-perishable foods that don’t require cooking or refrigeration – dried fruit, peanut butter and jelly, canned meats, fruits and veggies, granola bars, crackers, nuts, etc. Don’t forget to keep a manual can opener on hand for the canned goods – an electric one will do you no good without electricity!
– Coffee Addicts: You can make and freeze coffee before the storm!
– Fill propane tanks so that you can cook food on the grill in the case of power outage
– Make food ahead and freeze – food can be reheated in pots/pans on the grill

Water
– Freeze gallon jugs, 2-liter bottles, and gallon-size Ziploc bags with water to use to keep items cool and then you can use the water as drinking water as they defrost.
– Fill a bathtub with water for sanitary purposes – flushing toilets, cleaning, bathing.
– Don’t forget water for your pets and for mixing infant formula!
– Bag and store your ice in grocery store bags because ice will be scarce later

Your Home
– Do laundry and dishes ahead of the storm in case we lose water or electricity for several days.
– Trim your trees and remove any limbs that are close enough to harm your house
– Clean out your gutters and downspouts
– Remove grills, trash cans, lawn decor, patio furniture, yard furniture and toys from the front and back yard and secure in garage or shed
– Unplug items like TVs and computers if the storm is directly affecting you
– Create an inventory list of all items in your home: furniture, appliances, fixtures, jewelry, major art pieces, etc. Include a description, serial number, purchase date, and estimated value. Take photographs of all sides of your exterior, backyard, front yard, and all rooms inside your home
– Close blinds and curtains and move furniture away from windows
– Store important documents (insurance papers, medical documents, birth certificates, social security cards, etc.) in a waterproof container. If you don’t have waterproof container, place these documents inside a Ziploc bag inside the dishwasher because it is sealed.
– If you have hurricane shutters, put them up in advance. If you don’t have shutters, board up your windows that are vulnerable to the winds of the storm
– Obtain and place sand bags in front of entryways if you are prone to flooding
– Store your vehicle in the garage and manually lock your garage door in case power goes out (practice how to open your door manually before this happens)
– If you have a pool:
*Do not empty your pool of water. Excessive rain can cause structural issues to an empty pool
*Add extra chlorine to the water to prevent contamination from debris and stormwater
*Turn off the power to your pool – Pump motors, lighting, chlorinators, and heaters should not operate in the storm.

Medical
– Refill and pick up your prescription medication before the storm hits, even if you haven’t run out of your current fill.
– Non-prescription medication to have on hand: pain relievers for adults and children, antacids, hydrocortisone cream, etc.
– Personal hygiene items
– Have a first aid kit on hand with band-aids, anti-septic wipes, antibacterial cream, antihistamine for allergic reactions

Your Pet
– Make sure you are stocked up on food and also have enough water for your pets
– Have a crate/carrier to put your pet(s) in if you need to evacuate
– Put a collar on them and keep a leash on hand
– If your pet needs medication, make sure you have it before the storm hits
– Pets will need up-to-date vaccination records to be able to enter a shelter

Special Needs Registry
– Seminole County Special Needs Registry

– Orange County Special Needs Registry

Cell Phone Apps
– Zello Walkie Talkie (must have network or WiFi connection)
– FireChat (no signal or data needed)

What’s Happening In Central Florida?

EXPANSIONS

Orlando International Airport is planning a $3 million dollar terminal expansion that will allow 10 million more passengers per year.The third terminal is estimated to be completed by 2019. More visitors each year is great news for Central Florida’s economy!

The Dr. Phillip’s Performing Arts Center will expand in the near future with a new acoustical theater that will seat 1,700 and a new rehearsal space.

In partnership with Valencia College, the University of Central Florida is expanding with a new campus in Downtown Orlando, to be built on 15 acres between Livingston and Amelia streets. The new campus “will offer degrees in digital media and communication, health information technology & administration, and community-facing programs like social work and legal studies…” Slated to open in Fall of 2019, UCF Downtown will include housing, parking, and dedicated transportation to/from UCF’s main campus.
*Fun Fact: UCF is Florida’s largest university and the second largest university in the nation (by enrollment number).

The Vue at I-Drive 360 is adding the world’s tallest StarFlyer attraction – 450 feet (five stories higher than the Orlando Eye!) – to be completed by the end of 2017.

Universal Studios always has expansions and new rides in the works. Next year, a Jimmy Fallon simulator ride, Volcano Bay water park, and brand new hotel ‘Adventura’ are slated to open. A Fast and the Furious ride is scheduled for 2018. There is also a rumor that a new ride based on the movie The Secret Life of Pets to open sometime in the near future.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom  will welcome Pandora: The World of Avatar in summer 2017. The area will include two major rides, a tiki bar, restaurant, and gift shops. “The land itself will be an attraction with bioluminescent plants lining walking trails and ‘floating’ mountains hanging overhead.” (Orlando Weekly)

Fun Spot Kissimmee is adding a wooden roller coaster with a track that will be 2,256 feet long, set to open in summer of 2017.

Lake Nona is busy with some really cool new facilities! The newly popular community has been chosen as the home of the $70 million US Tennis Association National Campus with 102 total courts, scheduled to open in December 2016. It will also host a 23-acre training facility for Orlando City Soccer Club, with a goal of opening in early 2017. Besides sports facilities, a 60,000 square-foot retail center that will include an apartment complex on Lake Whippoorwill, shops, and restaurants.

Sunrail is adding five new stations to the existing list of 12 stations in the coming years – DeLand, Meadow Woods (Orange County), Tupperware Station (Osceola County), Kissimmee (Osceola County), and Poinciana Station (Osceola County). The last four stations listed will be spread between a 17.2 miles segment and link Sand Lake Road to Poinciana.

In an effort to “transform the region to better connect our communities, boost our economy, and improve everyone’s quality of life,” the I-4 Ultimate Project is still underway. It is a 21-mile makeover of I-4 from West of Kirkman Road to east of State Road 434 that is estimated to be completed in 2021.

NEW ATTRACTIONS

A new stadium for Orlando City and Orlando Pride soccer teams will be opening in 2017. The stadium is located 2 blocks from the Amway Center and will have a seating capacity of 25,000, as well as a 10,000sq.ft. fan plaza.

The Orlando Magic has a $200 million entertainment complex planned for across from the Amway Center. Its plans include a 250-room hotel, 64,000 SF of retail space, 100,000sf of office space, 250 residential units, and a parking garage.

Brightline will begin construction in 2017 on a passenger train that will take travelers from Orlando to Miami and back. The ride will take 3 hours instead of the 4 hours that it takes to drive from Orlando to Miami – “Rather than putting miles on your own car, paying for gas and navigating heavy traffic, passengers can sit back and enjoy the ride.”

Andretti Indoor Karting and Games, “essentially Orlando’s first indoor theme park, “is planned to open in summer of 2017. The new attraction will feature indoor g0-karting, bowling, laser tag, and more.

In late 2017, Kissimmee will be home to the new Margaritaville Resort Orlando. The resort will feature 187 rooms, 1,000 vacation cottages, and 300 timeshare units along with shopping, dining, entertainment, and a 12-acre waterpark.