Top 4 Disastrous Deep South Family Reunion Mistakes:

Summer is the quintessential time to kick back and relax with the people you love, which is probably why so many of us are busy planning family reunions this time of year! In your haste to meet your cousin’s new wife or reconnect with your beloved grandma, you may forget how important it is to find a location that accommodates everyone from Great-Aunt Margaret to your infant nephew. As families grow bigger, logistics also become more complicated. You need to ensure that no unfortunate surprises ruin your joyous gathering. At Paul Davis Emergency Services of Cashiers/Highlands, your family’s safety is our number one priority. We’ve put together a list of the top four disastrous family reunion scenarios—including hurricanes and heat waves—and how to plan ahead, just in case!

Dangers out and about:

1. The Gulf Coast and Atlantic beaches are a lovely place to hold a reunion, and perhaps one or the other is central location for your family. But booking a summer party in the Southeast is a dangerous move—you could find your party interrupted by a hurricane! Southerners know hurricanes can be the most dangerous storms on Earth, so it’s wise to think twice before gathering the family in the hurricane belt between June and November.
2. There’s nothing better than spending a beautiful day outside with those you love! But as Southerners know, heat waves can quickly turn any outdoor activity into a dangerous one. Your reunion’s guests could be at risk for dehydration and potentially-fatal heat strokes if you try to enjoy the beautiful outdoors during a heat wave. Instead, move the party to an indoor location that’s air conditioned to keep your family members safe.

Dangers at home:

1. That same Southern heat wave that kept your reunion out of the park may prevent you from partying in your home, too.  Although its best to stay out of direct sunlight during a heat wave, congregating in an un-air conditioned home could cause overheating and heat strokes in your guests, particularly the elderly and very young. If there’s a heat wave underway and your house isn’t air conditioned, make sure you have ample fans to circulate the air or move the party to an air-conditioned facility. If you do have air conditioning, be sure to have your air ducts inspected and cleaned if they haven’t been serviced in a while. Your guests who have asthma and allergy sensitivities will thank you!
2. Perhaps your family chose your Southern vacation home for a gathering to take advantage of your sparkling pool out back. While they provide hours of family-friendly entertainment, swimming pools can be deadly for children and adults alike. It falls to you to protect your guests—once your reunion is underway, make sure there is always significant supervision around the pool and keep horseplay at a minimum to help avoid dangerous situations. Keep a careful eye on those who cannot swim, and consider hiring a professional lifeguard or babysitter as an additional set of eyes.

Paul Davis Emergency Services of Cashiers/Highlands assists the following communities with water, fire, mold and storm damage clean up and repair:  Jackson, Macon, Swain and Transylvania Counties, including the cities of Cashiers, Cullowhee, Franklin, Glenville, Highlands, Sapphire, Sylva and Toxaway..