Wetter than normal fall forecast for parts of Pacific Northwest

After a dry, devastating wildfire season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a wetter-than-normal fall in much of the Pacific Northwest, saying that Washington, in particular, has up to a 50% chance to receive more precipitation than usual through November.

That means now is the perfect time to get your car and home weather-ready.

For your car

1. Replace wiper blades. They're only good for one year.
2. Make sure your car has winter-ready tires. Think all-weather, snow or studded depending on when and where you drive. (If you're considering studded tires, know that they're legal only from Nov. 1 through March 31 in the Northwest, barring removal-deadline extensions for extreme, unusual weather.)
3. Check your antifreeze (with a tester available at auto parts stores) to see the temperature at which your protection ends. A 50:50 mixture of antifreeze and water is best, but you may have less than that if you've been topping off with plain water.
4. Get your battery tested if it's more than three years old. Clean corrosion from posts and cables.
5. Carry an emergency kit that includes gloves, a water-resistant blanket, warm clothes, nonperishable food and water, sand or cat litter (traction if you get stuck), ice scraper, flashlight, tire chains, jumper cables and washer fluid. And your gas tank? Until spring, live by the "half tank" rule (never allowing your gas gauge to dip below that), so you won't have to worry about running out of gas if a weather-snarled commute leaves you stuck on the freeway for hours.

For your home

1. Clean gutters so clogs won't cause water to seep back into the roof (causing leaks) or overflow near the foundation, causing leaks and settling. Check out the video for safety tips.
2. Clear debris out of drains at the bottom of driveways and exterior stairwells. (Keep checking until your neighborhood trees have fully shed their leaves.)
3. Check your basement sump pump, if you have one, to make sure it's clean, plugged in and working.
4. Disconnect your garden hose and protect the faucet with a foam cover. If it has an indoor valve, turn it off and open the faucet to drain any trapped water.
5. Wrap pipes in unheated spaces (think garages and workshops).

And, if you haven't considered it recently, take another look at federal or private flood insurance. Now's the time to buy because there's a 30-day no-claims-allowed waiting period once the application is processed. To learn more about flood insurance and for help in applying, call your local PEMCO agent or PEMCO Insurance Agency at 1-800-467-3626, ext. 4007.