Start with specific risk assessment, taking into consideration the belongings that are in view of your property. Second, create a general emergency plan that includes communication strategies and ways/routes to evacuate. Third, strengthen structural frameworks, such as reinforcing foundations, or securing windows. Do not also forget securing outdoor items that could become projectiles in strong winds. Prepare an emergency kit ready with everything one may need. Keep landscaping low to minimize flood risks. Finally, check to see if you have enough insurance coverage. Know your local alerts and resources. This is just the beginning of how you can make your property more disaster resilient. Learn more by accessing the other tabs.
Assess Your Risks
Disaster preparedness starts with the identification of the specific risks to your property. Start a formal risk assessment that clearly outlines specific hazards likely to pose an immediate threat to your area. Consider what natural disasters are common in your region, whether it be flooding, wildfires, earthquakes, or hurricanes. No two environments will be alike, so tailor your analysis to the environment you’re living in.
Identify the hazards next. Walk around your property, taking in where the vulnerabilities lie. Do you have large trees that might fall in a storm? Is your home located on higher ground, or in a place prone to flooding? Note structural weaknesses, such as older roofs and insufficient drainage systems.
You might also want to check on local resources such as governmental websites or community groups that would provide you with more data on the risks your home may be exposed to. Most of them have excellent insights into past events and local hazards.
Make An Emergency Plan
Once you have come to know about your property’s risks, then your next step would be preparing an emergency plan on those specific risks.
First, draw on clear ways of communication that everyone in the house can follow. Ensure that everyone knows how to reach one another if an emergency were to occur, whether that means calling each other, texting each other, or having a meeting spot.
Assign the family roles so that one would know what everyone’s role is, should a disaster strike: which one gets the supplies, which one tends to the neighbors or pets. This will not only simplify your response but it would also empower each member to take some kind of action in case this ever had to be implemented.
Know your emergency plan and practice regularly. Know your drills for the various scenarios, so that when an actual emergency occurs, everyone would feel confident and ready. In times of crisis, coordinating with your local emergency management agency can help ensure that your property is properly secured and that you have a clear evacuation plan in place.
Strengthen Your Home
Strengthening your home is very significant to mitigate natural disasters. The first line of defense of your house against heavy winds due to severe weather begins by reinforcing your foundation. You can reinforce the foundation of your house by adding steel reinforcements or even using concrete piers to help it withstand strong winds and floodwater.
And don’t forget your roof, check that it’s properly nailed down and is in decent shape.
Next, you may want to add storm shutters. These sheets of protection offer to cover your windows during a storm, providing a layer of security during storms reducing the risk of breaking. Opt for shutters that are easy to use since you will be expected to put them on when a storm is looming.
Check your doors too. Strengthened doors and heavy-duty locks can keep the wind and water from getting inside your home.
If you are living in an earthquake susceptible area, check your overall structure of your home and consider retrofitting when necessary.
Secure Outdoor Items
How might you protect your belongings from becoming dangerous projectiles during a storm? First, take stock of your yard. Note what will be swept up or blown away with ease, such as patio furniture, grills, and decorations.
For larger pieces, you may have portable anchors. These will secure an item, such as outdoor furniture or playsets, into the ground so that they are not tossed around in heavy winds.
Next, invest in some outdoor storage. Place lighter elements in sheds or storage containers to keep them dry and safe.
If you do not have the storage available, invest in tarps, or heavy-duty bags that can tie down smaller items. If a storm were to approach, take that extra step to bring in whatever you can inside temporarily.
Build a Disaster Kit
Right after securing outdoors, making a disaster kit is the next important step in preparing for disaster. For this reason, the kit should be readily accessible and well-stocked with basic items to sustain you and your family during an emergency.
First of all, it should contain sufficient non-perishable food and water to last at least three days. You should store at least one gallon of water per person per day. Besides this, you might want to store water purification tablets as a surety should you ever run out of drinking water.
First aid kit, include bandages, antiseptics, gauze, and any prescription drugs your family may need. Flashlight, extra batteries, and a multi-tool are also handy for a number of tasks. To keep your lines of communication open, include a battery-operated or hand-crank radio in your kit. You should also store vital documents, important paperwork, cash, and a list of emergency numbers in watertight bags.
Finally, add your personal touches such as a whistle, dust masks, and blankets to keep you warm.
Consider checking and updating your disaster kit from time to time to ensure that all items are still fresh and in good working condition. Readiness provides an opportunity to follow any form of disaster with no fear.
Maintain Landscaping
Landscaping of your property plays a major role in disaster preparedness and lessens the potential damage from extreme weather events. By having appropriate ways of landscaping, you may have more enduring surroundings that can withstand the rigors of such phenomena.
First of all, choose the plants from natives because they are more receptive to the climate where you live and require less care. These not only grow during drought times but also help function as natural barriers to wind and erosion.
Ensure your trees are well-pruned and healthy. Remove any dead branches that can cause hazards when heavy storms hit. Plant trees in such a way that they could also shield your home from strong winds, but ensure they are far enough so as not to be able to cause further damage.
You can help improve the instance of flooding by putting proper drainage systems into your landscaping. This can be accomplished by grading your yard away from your home to move water away and by utilizing rain gardens to soak up excess water. Mulching around plants will also help in reducing soil erosion and retaining moisture.
Regular landscaping maintenance can add beauty to your home and solidify it further for natural catastrophes. This proactive measure keeps you ahead of the game when nature decides to unleash its fury on your home and family.
Know Your Stuff
Disaster preparedness requires one to be informed. You have to monitor any weather updates that concern your location. You can easily register for local alerts on your phone or email so you get timely updates should there be any impending danger. Therefore, you will always be aware of any period that calls for action, such as evacuation or securing property.
Also, become familiar with the community resources. Many local governments provide information on emergency shelters, evacuation routes, and disaster response teams. Know the website of your community or social media pages for updated news and resources.
You can do this by joining local preparedness groups so that you are connected with your neighbors who share your commitment to safety. Keep active in the community through meetings or workshops on disaster readiness. These indeed provide very helpful information on what one is supposed to do before, during, and after a disaster.
Review Insurance Policies
Reviewing one’s insurance policies is highly important in ensuring that one is properly covered from the financial effects of natural disasters.
First, review the insurance you already have. Make sure your policy protects against the most common risks where you reside, whether it be floodings, earthquakes, or hurricanes. Most standard policies do not cover these, and you may want to get additional coverage for them.
Second, know all of the exclusions on the policy. An exclusion is some sort of condition or occurrence that your insurance will not cover, and it’s important to know what those are. For example, some policies would exclude any damage that is the result of flooding if you do not have a separate flood insurance policy.
Check your coverage limits, too. If your property has greatly appreciated in value since you bought your policy, you may want to increase your coverage limits so that you won’t be underinsured.
Feel free to ask questions and seek clarification for anything from your agent or an insurance expert. They can guide you better through the complexities of your policy and tell you what works and what doesn’t to add more features in order to suit your needs.
Closing Thoughts
Preparing your property for natural disasters isn’t just smart; it’s a no-brainer. Did you know that nearly 60% of Americans live in areas prone to natural disasters? Assessing risks, creating an emergency plan, and reinforcing your home are steps in the right direction toward protection of loved ones and your property. Make sure to tie down outdoor items and keep your landscaping low. Stay informed and review your insurance policies with frequency to make sure you’re ready for anything.