Forces of nature can cause harm to your family and your home. However, with a well-laid plan in place to ensure your residence remains intact, you can protect it and your loved ones. Use these methods to prepare your household for natural disasters and keep your family home ready for unfortunate events.
Secure Furniture
Natural forces can pick up the furniture inside and around the home and throw it around. This can cause damage, so securing your furniture benefits the house and prevents more danger to your family. Secure large furniture items, such as bookshelves and tall cabinets, to the wall.
During earthquakes, these tall pieces of furniture are more likely to tip over and crush someone underneath it, leaving them trapped and injured. Ensuring they don’t move from the wall, regardless of how much the house shakes, creates safety.
Outside furniture, such as patio chairs and tables, may damage the home’s exterior during a tornado. Bolt this furniture to the deck or ground to make it less likely for the tornado’s vehement winds to pick it up and toss it through your windows.
Small objects, such as toys and tools, are also potential hazards that could lead to injury, so pack them away. Providing less fodder for harsh winds to impact the home will ensure everyone’s safety.
Make a Shelter
If you’re at home when a natural disaster occurs, you can’t escape, so you must take action to stay safe. Create a shelter for you and your family inside the home to provide better protection until the natural event subsides.
Basements are typically the go-to area for most people who need protection from the worsening elements since it’s below ground level. Add extra insulation for a durable layer to protect you from harsh winds.
Always Have Emergency Plans
Natural disasters are serious emergencies; like all emergencies, you need a plan to protect the home and your family. Make plans for the home for any disaster. Develop areas to hide under in the event of an earthquake and have an area that drains easily for flooding.
Showing your kids how to shut off utilities like water, gas, and electricity ensures there’s less chance of a worsening situation, such as an explosion in the event of a fire reaching a gas line. Also, consider making a roofing emergency action plan in case something happens to the roof and include numbers for reputable contractors and your insurance company.
The best way to ensure the safety of your home is through planning and preparedness. Keep your household prepared for natural disasters with these methods and ensure your family has a place to rest their heads after the danger passes.
