Georgia Magazine - October 2012 - (Page 38C)

Web exclusive W Spring is a good time for a house safety check Fundamentals hen the last traces of winter fade away, many homeowners can’t wait to begin tinkering around the house. Georgia’s electric cooperatives urge all ambitious home improvers to heed these guidelines: ith an estimated 50,000 deer-car collisions annually in Georgia, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, advises motorists across the state to be extra cautious of increased deer and wildlife sightings this fall season. “Some Georgia motorists may only • Be sure to inspect your gutters before April showers begin. If they are clogged, rainwater will overflow onto the siding of your house and could cause moisture problems. Downspouts should carry rainwater safely away from the foundation of the house. If they pour water out on the ground, it could seep into the basement. Take extra precautions to avoid deer on roads W • One of the first places to look for trouble is the roof. Watch for loose or missing shingles and leaks around flashings. Don’t begin repair work unless you’re confident of your do-it-yourself abilities. Think about calling a professional. • If your exterior paint job appears healthy, but it’s just a little dirty, don’t apply a fresh coat. If all your home needs is a cleaning, wash it. • A special reminder to parents: Never leave a container of liquid unattended near a small child. This includes wading pools, scrub buckets, toilets and bathtubs. The curious youngster can lean over to play in the water or drop something in a bucket and fall in head first. expect deer to cross rural roadways, while in fact, urban and suburban roads are also prime areas for deer-car collisions,” ex - plains Don McGowan, Wildlife Resources Division biologist. “Hunting is oftentimes • Be sure patios, porches and driveways are free from cracks and holes. • Check for damage as you take down storm windows and put up screen doors and windows. • Trim broken tree limbs and prune shrubs. Remove dry leaves and debris from under porches, wooden stairs and window wells. Pick up all junk, cans and other litter. mistakenly blamed for inIcreased deer-car collisions in autumn when, in reality, deer are on the move due to a series of both natural and human causes.” nventory the ins de • Clean off stairways and steps. Check treads, risers and carpeting and replace worn coverings. Increased deer sightings may occur for a number of reasons, such as: • Mating season: Deer mating season occurs between October and early December. Male deer go into rut and begin actively searching for mates. This greatly contributes to the increased movement of deer, bringing them across roadways. • Inspect your air-conditioning system and have repairs made now, before summer begins. Give the fireplace a thorough cleaning and close the damper. Consider calling a chimney sweep. Sprinkler systems can save lives M remodel their existing homes. Fire spreads so quickly that you could have as little as two minutes to escape before it’s too late. A fire sprinkler system can buy you a few more minutes. When it senses a fire, the sprinkler system auto- matically sprays water on the flames. Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will spray. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that 90 percent of deaths in residential fires can be prevented by sprinklers. If you’re buying a new home, March 2011 • Increased human population and rural development: As the human population continues to grow and expand into traditionally rural areas, deer lose their natural food sources and consequently move into new territories in search of food and water. ost fire departments urge homeowners to install sprinkler systems in new homes, or when they • Time changes: As we “fall back” on Nov. 4 when daylight saving time ends, our days become shorter and nights become longer. Rush hour for most commuters tends to fall during the same hours when white-tailed deer are most active—at dawn and dusk. is installed behind your walls, similar to plumbing, and is connected to your home’s water supply. A plumber should do the installation. The Wildlife Resources Division offers motorists some tips and information to help avoid potential collisions: • Unpredictable: A deer calmly standing on the side of a road may bolt into or across the road rather than away from it when startled by a vehicle. choose one that has a sprinkler system. If you’re remodeling your home, add a system. The sprinkler system • One deer usually means more: Take caution and slow down when a deer crosses. Deer generally travel in groups, so if one crosses, be prepared that others may follow. • Time of year: While deer-car collisions can occur any time of year, the fall breeding season is a peak time. Road shoulders generally provide deer green food both during extremely dry times of the year and following a long, hard winter. • Minimize damage: If it is too late to avoid a collision, drivers are advised to slow down as much as possible to minimize damage. Resist the urge to swerve to avoid the deer, which may cause further damage, sending drivers off the road or causing a collision with another vehicle. If an accident occurs, alert the police as soon as possible. October is Cooperative Month W hen the economy is uncertain, and the country’s leaders can’t seem to agree what to do about it, it’s good to know that your neighbors have your back. One of those good neighbors is your electric cooperative. Your electric utility is locally owned. In fact, you and your neighbors own it. That’s the nature of the cooperative way of doing business. A cooperative is owned by the people who use its services. That’s why your cooperative refers to you as a member-owner instead of as a customer. As a member-owner, you have a say in how your electric cooperative oper- ates. You may attend the cooperative’s annual membership meeting, vote for which of your neighbors may sit on its board of directors, or even run for a seat on the board yourself. Electric cooperatives do not sell stock on Wall Street or rely on investors to stay in business. It’s a community business—and it always has been. October 2012 October 2012 More online at www.georgiamagazine.org 38C http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Georgia Magazine - October 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - October 2012