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A Homeowner's Guide to Emergency Preparedness

Home ownership has long been a part of the American Dream. In addition to providing shelter, it represents the future for some, while, for others, their home is a keeper of memories and represents family, love, and accomplishment. That's why it's so important to keep it safe from the destruction that often comes from unexpected emergencies or natural disasters. As a homeowner, one has to be prepared for anything. The best way to do that is to prepare for dangerous situations before they happen. Being proactive not only helps to reduce the amount of damage that one's home endures during a disaster, but it can help keep the people living within its walls safe. Because preparing the home often involves maintenance that strengthens it from routine wear and tear, it can help increase its longevity as well.

Creating an Emergency Plan

Emergency preparedness starts with creating the right emergency plan. Some disasters, like fires, can happen anywhere and everyone should prepare for them, regardless of where they live. Other disasters, such as earthquakes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, or tsunamis, are more of a likelihood in some areas and may rarely happen in others. To create disaster-specific plans, it's important to check what disasters are more common in the city and state where the house is.

While all disaster plans have similar basic steps, there are also differences. When creating an emergency plan for earthquakes, for example, discuss and identify the best places to take shelter during the quake. Ideally, look for sturdy tables or desks in each room, or if none are available, designate interior walls to crouch down next to. This wall should not be near windows, a television, or anything that might shatter or fall. When planning for fires, it's most important to plot out the safest and quickest ways to exit each room.

People living in areas that have tornadoes or hurricanes will need to assign a place to seek shelter. This may involve going to a designated safe shelter in town, especially if living in a manufactured or mobile home. People who own traditional single-family houses or live in an apartment will need to take shelter in an interior room without windows. Ideally, the room should be on the lower floor, unless there is a risk of flooding. For tornadoes, a basement or cellar is best.

Homeowners in areas that frequently have hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, volcanoes, or tsunamis, will probably at some point need to evacuate. For them, their emergency plan must outline how and where to evacuate. One should also map out a primary and a backup evacuation route in the event of road closures. A secondary means of transportation is also important.

Evacuation planning also means locating designated area shelters or contacting someone who's willing to offer shelter in an emergency. If these options aren't viable during an emergency, identify several backup locations, such as a motel. People with pets must ensure that they're welcome wherever they plan to shelter, as many locations do not allow animals.

Disaster Supplies and Emergency Essentials

Every emergency plan, regardless of the disaster, requires supplies. These supplies include food, water, medications, and necessary tools. The amount of food and water will depend on how long they'll need to last and the number of people who need them. For water, plan on a gallon per person per day to be used for drinking and sanitation purposes. Keep enough food and water to last at least two weeks, although a minimum of 72 hours is recommended.

When storing food, choose non-perishable items, like canned and dry goods. When storing emergency food, consider the individual needs of family members and any food restrictions or allergies. With the food, include utensils, cups, paper towels, and a manual can opener. If there are pets, store pet food as well to avoid depleting the principal food supply. Store the emergency supply of food and water in a cool and dry location. Check supplies regularly, at least every six months, monitor dates, and replace any items that have expired or show signs of damage.

Pack a change of clothing for each person living in the home, including a jacket, a pair of sneakers, boots, or some other sturdy pair of closed-toe shoes. Because emergencies may occur in cold weather months, one should also store rain gear and gloves.

Other essential items should help keep the home's occupants safe and aware of what's happening around them. An emergency kit must have a flashlight and spare batteries, a hand-crank radio or a battery-powered one, and a charged cellphone with an extra charger and backup battery. To turn off utilities, keep a wrench or pair of pliers in the kit and a whistle to call for help if necessary.

A kit should also include medication, tissue, hygiene products, face masks, and a stocked first aid kit. Keep a 7- to 10-day supply of any prescription medications that people in the home may take.

What to Bring in Case of an Evacuation

When evacuating a house, a person can't take everything they own with them. There are, however, some things that one should definitely have on hand, including spare car and house keys and a map. Additional supplies should be a similar, but smaller and more portable version of the emergency supplies put together for sheltering at home. Include a 3-day supply of food and water for each person, medication, and a small first-aid kit. Because shelters are very public and crowded, it's important to pack face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant spray. A battery-powered radio, a flashlight, and additional batteries are also necessary, as is a portable charger.

Because they'll be away from the home for a few days at minimum, homeowners will need extra clothing, important paperwork such as insurance, proof that they own their home, and extra cash.

Emergency Fund and Insurance

Every homeowner should have an emergency fund and the right type of insurance for their home. An emergency fund is cash kept specifically for unplanned expenses. These expenses can range from home repairs to medical bills. With an emergency fund, one doesn't need to access their primary bank account to pay for unexpected damages.

There are several ways to build emergency funds. Homeowners may choose to save their tax refund and any monetary gifts, such as cash given on birthdays or holiday bonus checks. Another saving option is to have a set amount of money routinely transferred into an emergency fund account.

With insurance, it's important for homeowners to review their policies and understand what their coverage limits are and what is and isn't covered. This is important as one's home insurance will most often not provide coverage for every type of natural disaster. Knowing what types of disasters are common in an area will help homeowners get the coverage they need. In areas where there are extreme winds and heavy rainfall, for example, one will likely need windstorm or flood insurance policies. If living in an area where earthquakes are common, residents will need an earthquake policy. The homeowner should do this sooner than later, as some policies may have a waiting period before they are effective.

Electricity, Power, and Appliance Safety

Often when there is an emergency, the power is adversely affected. If this happens, it can create unsafe conditions inside homes. When aware of an imminent disaster, there are steps that people can take to eliminate problems before they happen. If there's a threat of flooding, for example, turn off and unplug appliances and other electronics to avoid accidental shock or electrocution. Elevating appliances so they are above expected flood levels will also help prevent damage to the appliance and the injury or death of the homeowner.

In most emergency situations, unplugging electrical items will prevent damage due to power surges when the power comes back on. It's also useful to invest in portable power such as portable power banks and chargers. If one does not already know how to shut off the gas at the shutoff valve or electricity in their home, they will need to locate and learn how to turn off or shut down both.

Testing Your Emergency Plan

An emergency plan is worth nothing if it isn't efficient or can't be executed as intended. To test the effectiveness of an emergency plan, conduct practice drills at least twice a year. As a part of these drills test everyone living in the home to ensure they remember how to shut off the gas or electricity and how to quickly and safely exit the home. If a plan requires seeking shelter within the home, everyone should be able to quickly go to the designated spot and demonstrate how to protect their head. If an emergency plan involves evacuation, time everyone to see how quickly they can gather their portable emergency pack, and follow the escape routes to the intended evacuation spot. When conducting a practice drill, also update all phone numbers.

Maintaining and Fortifying Your Home

A well-maintained house is crucial and the first step in keeping it safe in the event of an emergency. Homeowners should have their homes inspected to ensure that the roof is in good condition and have the house checked for other issues that may prove problematic, such as bad wiring and cracks in the home's foundation. To protect against damage from flood water, seal the basement or add flood walls to help prevent the water from reaching the house. Seal any leaks or cracks around the windows to prevent damage from rain. It may also be beneficial for some people to fortify their homes by adding shutters to protect windows.

Have damaged trees removed and regularly prune the branches of large trees to prevent them from damaging the home and hurting people inside. Strategic gardening can also be helpful, particularly for people who live in areas known for wildfires. Certain plants, like hedging roses or ice plants, are more fire-resistant than others and are ideal for planting close to the home. Another important part of maintaining one's home is to check the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the home.

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