With high winds in the forecast, apartment administrators remind you to take steps to protect yourself from potential damage

With high winds in the forecast, apartment administrators remind you to take steps to protect yourself from potential damage

With forecasters predicting high winds across Lithuania in the coming days, Deividas Karalius, Regional Manager of Civinity, a multifamily housing maintenance and administration company, reminds you of the simple steps you can take to protect your home and other property from potential damage. These steps are particularly relevant if you are going away for a long weekend and leave your home unattended.

Close windows and doors both in the flat and on staircases

It is important not to leave windows open in your apartment when high winds are forecast. In high crosswinds and rain, rain can enter and flood the apartment, damaging not only the apartment, but also neighbouring apartments.

In stormy weather, it is advisable to make sure that not only the windows and doors in the apartment are tight, but also that they are not open in the stairwells of the apartment block.

“In case of heavy rain and wind, it is important not only to close the windows and balcony doors in the apartment, but also to check the windows and doors in the stairwells. Wind and rain damage in stairwells may not be noticed by residents in time, and the damage to the common areas of the apartment block can be significant,” comments the expert.

Remove items from balconies and terraces

In high winds, it is important to keep terraces and balconies clear of objects that can be easily lifted by the wind. It is recommended that all items such as outdoor furniture, umbrellas, flower pots, as well as light boxes and other items, are brought inside the apartment.

“In gusty winds, we are faced with situations where the wind picks up and carries items left on balconies and terraces by residents. Such situations are very dangerous and can cause damage to property and health,” says Mr Karalius.

It is also advisable to remove plants from terraces and balconies, especially those that are hanging or attached to balconies or window railings. 

Keep an eye on dips in terraces

In stormy weather, it is also common for the leaves of plants on terraces to be torn off by high winds. Leaves that fall heavily on the ground and are not collected in time clog up the grates in the pavement that are used to collect rainwater.

The leaf-clogged gullies no longer serve their function, do not collect rainwater and flood the terraces and the flats next to them. Therefore, in the event of stormy weather, the expert recommends either removing the plants on the terraces or monitoring the gullies and removing them if they are blocked with leaves or contacting the emergency services.

Do not leave cars under trees

There are reports that high winds may blow trees over, so the Administrator reminds you not to leave your car under large trees in this weather forecast, as they may topple and cause damage.

In the event of a tree being blown down or uprooted in the courtyard of a block of flats, the administrator urges you to inform the emergency services so that the uprooted trees can be cleaned up and removed from the block of flats without delay.

Close refuse containers

The administrator also urges people to be aware of open containers in the courtyard of the apartment block and to close them.

In gusty winds, it can blow rubbish out of an open container and spread it not only in the courtyard but also outside the apartment block,

Report sightings of loose items

There are occasions when gusty winds tear various elements of the building, such as facade elements, roofing sheets, roof antennas and wires, away from the structure.

If you notice any loose items on the building structure, the apartment administrator urges you not to fix or remove them yourself and to inform the emergency services immediately.