Preparing Your Home for a Natural Disaster

Hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes are natural disasters that occur on a regular basis throughout the United States. It's imperative that homeowners who live in high risk zones be thoroughly prepared in case disaster strikes.

In states such as Florida for example, it's crucial to plan early in the year for the upcoming hurricane season, which lasts from the beginning of June to the end of November. Reinforce the most vulnerable parts of your home such as your windows, doors, and roofs to make sure that strong winds can't get inside the house. Once hurricane winds penetrate the building, they can literally tear the house apart.

Do your research and hire a reputable professional to handle all the work on your home so that any repairs and additions that are made are completed to proper codes. You will want your builder to install storm shutters over all windows, skylights, and glass doors in order to protect your house from large objects and debris that gets tossed around at high velocities during a tropical storm.

It's also a good idea to have hurricane straps installed on your roof in order to prevent it from detaching from the house, in addition to checking to make sure that your garage door is solidly in place. If gale force winds are able to rip your garage door off, your entire home will be at risk.

Once you've optimized the physical stability of your home, you need to ensure that your family will be safe during the storm. In the case of a mandatory evacuation, everyone in your family needs to know where their escape routes are and where to go. Arrange to meet at a pre-selected safe haven in case you become separated.

Have emergency supplies on hand in the event that your family is unable to get out of the house. Drinking water, matches, canned goods, batteries, blankets, and first aid supplies are some of the basic ingredients that every emergency kit should have. Experts say that you should have at least three days' worth of food and water available because there may be power outages, and emergency crews may not get to you right away. Check your kit often to make sure that nothing has spoiled or is in need of repair.

Finally, if you're living in an area that is susceptible to storms, flood insurance is invaluable to have. Traditional homeowners' insurance does not cover the damages caused by flooding, even though rising waters can cause irreparable damage to your property. It is well worth the monthly investment for flood insurance to make sure that you don't lose thousands of dollars in repairs.

Don't wait until disaster strikes to start thinking about these essential measures. Before a natural disaster comes, prepare your most valuable asset so that you and your family can weather the storm safely.