winter storm preparations

In 1987 my then three-year-old was snatched away from me by the wind and was blown down the road like one of those rolling bushes in cowboy films. Fortunately he wasn't hurt. Where I now live I have no effect from any storms but feel for those who do.

I wonder if it’ll be like 1987? I certainly remember that one - woke up to hear chainsaws cutting up big trees that had fallen across the fairly main road. One house opposite had one such tree fall on its roof.

We live close to a Royal Park that was closed for quite a long time, because of dangerous trees.

I still remember our milkman, who arrived regardless, saying, ‘I don’t know - a little bit of wind and the whole country goes to rack and ruin.’ 😂

We had torrential rain yesterday, but not for long, and all is quiet so far this morning. As my FiL used to say so often, ‘There’s not a leaf moving.’
The calm before the storm?

Bin is now in the garage and I have taken most of my cardboard to the tip. I also popped out and made a couple of builders cones safe. I really am finished now

Anyone interested in pressure. My weather station is reading 991, which is already low and we are expecting a dramatic, sudden drop to 950 which is a record number. There will be bodily effects on people as the internal body pressure is higher so sinuses etc can bulge and there could be headaches and general body aches and affected blood pressure, eg careful when you stand up

Ali, wind fills the canvas raincovers and they act like sails which then get enough energy to lift the acacia wood benches. A concrete slab on top of a cover last year, slid off in the wind and broke, thankfully not causing patio damage. This year two slabs actually on the wood and covers over

Re storm drains, they are designed so that any bits remain in the gully, to be cleared. Chicken wire would have no better effect at all. Much easier to scoop out from a smooth gully.

somerset is where I live. Generally, people no longer take responsibility for keeping the areas in their locality safe from bad rain, not like they used to when most cleared drains in their villages and around their homes. I used to go out from the family home with a long stick and it was so satisfying to see water flow away down the drain, after a good prodding

Something else I have found to work extremely well was a garadry garage door flood barrier, one of the first things I ever added to my new build. From ebay and very easy to put down. It cost me around £230 and has been worth every penny.Mastic is zig-zagged below and around and no water can enter my garage

Before that I was getting wet running into the garage, never since

Why have you put concrete slabs under wooden bench covers, aren't they weatherproof?
If you are able, and willing, you could attach chicken wire to the grids at the entrance to storm drains, so it catches any large debris that might otherwise clog the drains up and be easier for you to remove!

Whereabouts do you live, Karmalady. We once had a bad night with a tin watering can rolling all round the patio. Securing that is all we do, ex trying to find a dry w/e to put the hefty covers on the wooden furniture.

I wish the councils had the resources to do similar karmalady, one of the biggest issues when there are storms in my area is that the storm drains have not been cleared, and the roads run like rivers, we also often have minor landslides which can take weeks to be cleared, forcing us to take diversions.