No one wants to think about having to go through any kind of damaging disaster. But, it’s impossible to ignore the recent uptick in hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, and other damaging feats of nature that are causing serious problems.
While you can’t prevent these disasters from occurring, there are things you can do to protect your home. It’s a crucial practice, even if you’re nowhere near a “danger zone”. Being proactive about these things will help to keep you and your loved ones safe.
Let’s take a look at a few of the most common disasters (both natural and unnatural) and how you can prepare yourself and your home for them.
Taking Care of Yourself
One of the best things you can do for yourself and your family is to educate yourself on the common types of disasters in this country, including:
Hurricanes
Earthquakes
Fires
Flooding
Tornadoes
It’s also a good idea to take a look at where you are in the country to determine which disasters are most likely to affect you. You might notice that your home is constructed a certain way. It might have a coastal crawlspace or waterproof basement depending on where you live. Taking a look at things like that will give you an indication of what you can expect.
Preparation for yourself and your loved ones should include having a plan in place for any type of disaster. Your family should know their evacuation route, and you should know which shelters in your area you should be going to. Planning ahead and even “practicing” for these situations can make a big difference if they ever occur.
Taking Care of Your Home
If you live in an area that is commonly known for certain disasters, there are steps you should take to protect your home. That starts by looking at your foundation and any maintenance issues that need to be addressed. If you’re considering moving to a new home, consider things like:
Structural issues
Damage to roofing
Water damage (be sure to check the attic!)
Fire hazards (electrical system)
Mold or other toxins
If you’re not moving and want to prepare your current home, don’t be afraid to take on a few DIY projects to help with everything from structural integrity to waterproofing certain areas. Seal up any cracks in the foundation, look for any rotting and take care of any water damage, and strengthen the overall structure of your home from the inside out. You might not be able to prevent a disaster from causing damage, but you might be able to minimize that damage with the right proactive steps.
Taking Care of Your Finances
After disaster strikes, whether it’s something like an earthquake or a house fire, you might be left with serious damages to take care of. The cleanup itself can be overwhelming. But, dealing with insurance companies and wondering how you’re going to rebuild anything is the real long-term issue.
One of the best things you can do is to prepare yourself ahead of time. You never know when an unfortunate event might strike. So, having money stored away in a savings account is a great way to not be so dependent on insurance.
You also might consider taking out a personal loan either before or after a disaster. It’s easier than you might think if you can still gather your personal information and you have a reliable credit score.
It’s easy to look at your home after a disaster and think to yourself, “what now?”, but preparing as much as possible ahead of time will give you peace of mind that you can get through this, and move forward in every way.
Author Bio: Noah Rue is a freelance writer.
