Before you know it, spring will sneak up on us! Spring is a wonderful season of blooming flowers and warmer days. Birds are chirping and nature appears to be exploding with activity. Unfortunately, spring can bring some nasty weather which is associated with the changes of the seasons. Here are some tips on how to be more prepared should mother nature show her ugly side.
Sign Up For Alerts
Signing up for weather alerts can be a life saver. We are all so connected to our devices these days so there is no reason to not have this life saving alert active. The faster and more information you get, the easier it is to plan and prepare.
Have A Safety Plan
Get together as a family and go over what to do should a big storm happen. A few things to consider for you safety plan are:
Locate the safest place in the house. A storm shelter would be the best option but not all homes are equipped with a shelter. A room towards the center of the home with no windows would be ideal. Have this room equipped with a weather radio, batteries, flashlight, first aid kit and something to put over your head like a couch cushion.
Go over escape routes in case there is an evacuation.
Create a communication plan should your family not be all together.
Have An Emergency Kit Ready At All Times
Big storms can pop up quick and be gone in the blink of an eye. Having an emergency kit ready can be a life saver should the big one happen. A few things to keep in your kit include:
A couple gallons of water for each person
Flash lights and batteries
First aid kit
Blankets
NOAA weather radio
3 day supply of non perishable food
Medications
A whistle to signal for help
Wrench or pliars
Personal hygiene items
Fire extenguisher
A few other items that would be good to have handy should a power outage occur are:
A generator and fuel(Keeping fuel away from the home)
Power bank for charging cell phones or a charger for the generator
Also keep in mind that also having your vehicle prepared, should you be caught out and about, is also essential for total preparedness should an emergency occur. You should review your emergency kits once a year to re think your needs and update your kit should your family's needs change.
Preparing Your Home For A Storm
After you have made safety a priority, now let's look at your home itself. Keep an eye out and address the following to keep your home in tip top condition:
Look for dead trees and branches that could fall and hit your home and remove them
Secure loose furniture and decor should severe weather be expected
Be sure that gutters are clear of debris to help prevent clogged and overflowing gutters. Also be sure that gutters are secure
Also check the gutter downspouts that they are not clogged and water is directed away from the foundation. Consider adding extensions to get water further away from the structure
Get a roof inspection and look for signs of aging and perform preventative maintenance
Check your siding to see if it is firmly in place. Also check for signs of deterioration or needed caulking to prevent water intrusion
And Finally, Homeowners Insurance!
Lastly, after reading this, go ahead and call or get with your homeowners agent to review your homeowners insurance policy. Check that your deductible is what you expect it should be so that there are no surprises! It would also be a good idea to have a contractor that you know and trust to be on call should something happen to your home.
Mother nature is unpredictable, but you can still prepare for the unexpected.
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