Homeowners work hard to make a house a home, but Mother Nature can wipe it all away in a matter of minutes. For those who live in the Southeast and California, the risk is even higher, since these areas have been designated most prone to natural disaster. But whether you live in a coastal area, tornado alley, or one of the northern areas prone to heavy snowstorms, your home is at risk of at least one of the following disasters. By preparing in advance for disaster, you can protect your home and, most importantly, your loved ones against unexpected events.
Tornado
There isn’t much you can do to keep your home from being affected by a tornado, but you could invest in steel-reinforced doors and tornado-proof windows. Still, if an F5 tornado hits your house, no amount of sturdy construction will help. Instead consider investing in a safe room that will give your family a place to stay safe when the weather service issues a warning.
Hurricane
The best thing about hurricanes is that residents usually have decent warning that it’s coming. This gives you time to protect your windows and doors against damage and, most importantly, flee inland. If hurricanes are a possibility in your area, keep the supplies on hand you’ll need to board things up and have an evacuation plan in place.
Flood
A flood can happen as a result of excessive rain, hurricanes, broken dams, and poor drainage. When it’s the result of a natural disaster, homeowners can sometimes have little advance notice. One of the best things you can do to protect your home is purchase flood insurance, which is fairly inexpensive if your home isn’t in a flood zone. You can also hire contractors to fix any drainage issues before they cause damage.
Earthquake
Earthquakes happen on a fairly regular basis in some areas of the state, but few are serious enough to cause damage. If your area deals with earthquake risk, you can keep your home safe by bolting furniture in place and keeping heavy items on lower shelves. You can also use anchor bolts to bolt your home to its foundation.
Snow and Ice
Northerners grow accustomed to heavy snowfalls throughout the winter, but extremely heavy snow and ice can cause power outages and road closures. The best course of action as the winter months approach is to purchase a generator, as well as an extra freezer for food storage. You should also winterize your home to keep pipes safe from bursting.
Fire
Fires are an ongoing risk in any home, but some areas may deal with forest fires on a regular basis. To protect against household fires, make sure you have a smoke detector and fire extinguishers in place. For any type of fire, create an emergency plan that ensures all family members know where to meet if a fire happens. Keeping trees trimmed can also cut down on your risk of a wildfire spreading to your house.
Natural disaster can affect any home at any time. It’s important to have a plan in place in the event the worst does happen. Chances are, you’ll never have to use it, but it’s better to be prepared than to be taken by surprise.
