Helpful Products for Preparing for
the 2010 Arizona Monsoon Season

See our related video "Preparing for the Monsoon Season"

The Arizona Monsoon is a well-defined meteorological event that occurs during the summer throughout the southwest portion of North America.

In 2008, the Weather Service decided the Arizona monsoon season starts June 15 and ends Sept. 30. Of course when we actually see the first Arizona monsoon rains is still up to nature.

When a monsoon thunderstorm moves in, temperatures may drop from 105°F to 60°F in a matter of minutes.  The average amount of monsoon rainfall over the summer is 6 inches for the Sonoran Desert, which includes Phoenix and Tucson.

There are a number of new residents that are uncertain of how to prepare for the monsoon. We would like to talk briefly today about preparing your home for the monsoon season.

Wind damage and power outages really break down as the most significant issues for the homeowner.

Preparing for the monsoon should ideally start long before the next monsoon, that way things are calm, you have a clear mind, and don’t have the fury of the storm upon you.

The wind can cause backyard things to break, bend, blow about, and cause damage. Start by making sure the obvious backyard items are secure. Patio furniture, umbrellas, and roll up patio blind should be stowed. The less obvious items that can blow about are City of Phoenix trash cans, children’s play sets, trampolines, side yard sheds, window screens, loose roof tiles or shingles, and tree limbs can become airborne missiles.

Trees can become a large problem. They can snap off and do all types of damage. Securing young trees is mandatory in order to prevent damage to them. The proper way to secure a young tree is to stake it. Your local ACE hardware store has all the supplies you need for this easy DIY project. Hammer two 8 foot lodge poles into the ground, in a slight V shaped slant, then wire the tree to the poles with a piece of coated wire and a scrap piece of garden hose to create a “garden hose cradle”. This method allows the tree to grow without any undue stress. A single tree can be staked for about $15.00-$20.00, with material left over to do additional trees.

Medium sized and larger trees should be pruned in such a way that they are thinned out…with less resistance to the wind.  This is another easy DIY project. Small branches can be cut with hand pruners, larger branches can be cut with long handles pruners or a tree saw. And for the higher up branches, a pole saw works great. It features a saw and a pruner on the end of a pole. You can saw or prune from 8-12 feet away. This ones goes for $38.00 at your local ACE Hardware Phoenix store. Larger tress should be left to the pros.

Inside the home we want to ready for a power failure, and potential electrical surges which can damage sensitive equipment.

It’s best to have several good flashlights in the event of a power failure. Your local ACE store has a variety of flashlights big and small. These models run from $7.00-$15.00. But these lights are only as good as the batteries. So be sure to check them several times a year. Some flashlights don’t require batteries, like this wind up dynamo model that allows a steady light with just a few turns to power it up. It goes for about $17.00 and comes in various models.  

One item we particularly like is this Red Cross emergency radio set from ETON. It is a signal light, siren, flashlight and emergency weather alert radio that automatically turns itself on to broadcast warning messages. It can runs on regular batteries, rechargeable batteries, can be plugged in, and if all that fails you can hand crank it. It goes for $49.00

Our last subject is surge protectors. When lightning strikes power phone or cable lines, a surge can come through those lines into your home. A good surge protector can help prevent damage to your sensitive electrical equipment.

Sensitive equipment would include computers, modems, networks, Play Stations and home entertainment equipment. Surge protectors are rated in joules which tells you how much energy the surge protector can absorb before it fails. A higher number indicates greater protection. Look for a protector that is at least rated at 200 to 400 joules. For better protection, look for a rating of 600 joules or more. They run from $8.00-$30.00. Your Local ACE associate can help you choose the correct one. Some models even come with insurance policies if they should fail. This particular one features multiple outlets, protects power outlets, phone and cable connections, is rated at 1800 joles and comes with a $10,000 insurance plan and goes for $29.00. 

With the onset of the monsoon season just beginning there is still time to prepare! Visit your local ACE store, or see our monsoon video for more info about these and other storm preparation items.