The hydrological report from the Suwannee River Water Management District states that we are at a 20” rainfall deficit. As we enter our prime growing season, more water will be used by agriculture. The majority of North Florida is experiencing an Exceptional Drought with smaller areas in Extreme Drought, which is even worse.  We don’t expect any significant rain until June which means we have to adapt and prepare for fire season. 

Step 1. 

Create a ten-foot defensible perimeter around your structure removing any fuels, including ‘ladder fuels’ that can fire a bridge onto your structure. Clear leaves and branches from roofs, gutters, porches and decks. Remove dead plants, leaves and branches at least 10 feet from your home. CLEAN YOUR ROOF AND GUTTERS! Be aware of laddering of plants on the ground to  taller shrubs, and trees. 

Create horizontal and vertical spaces between vegetation to reduce the likelihood of fire spreading. 

Finally, expand the clearing of dry/dead debris to a 30-foot diameter from your house. Remove the fuel and you are unlikely to suffer from a fire.

Step 2.

Wildfire smoke is also bad for your health. Smoke can seep through your doors and windows. Painter’s tape around their edges and using a towel stuffed along the bottom will help keep the smoke out. Exhaust fans will only draw in the outdoor smoke, use a HEPA-filter. Skip any indoor activities that add particulates to the indoor air. 

Step 3

Make an escape plan with two exit routes.  Stay tuned to any local fires and wind changes. Assemble a ‘go bag’ with imp papers, medication, some essentials. Include pets in your escape plan. 

Life Tips for living in a heated world.

Limit outdoor activities to early morning and late afternoon, leaving the hottest midday hours to the indoors. If you can, set up an outside kitchen so the heat stays out. Porches and outdoor kitchens are great ways to prevent the heat from accumulating in your house. A toaster oven, instapot, and portable induction burner can fairly easily be placed on a table near an outdoor outlet for many of your cooking needs. 

Keeping cool indoors also takes an adjustment. The easiest way is to shield windows and doors from the heat by making sure they seal tight and are insulated with thick curtains or blankets. If you can, purchase an air filter to help clear the smoke from the indoors. 

Once the day cools below 80, you can open the curtains and windows to let the cool night breezes flush out the day’s heat.