Every September we celebrate National Preparedness Month to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies—particularly how to prepare your home. Whether you are protecting the home you bought or the home you rent, safety during hurricane season is vital.
The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure everyone in your home is on the same page. Take some time to sit down and discuss what hazards are common near you and create a plan that everyone is comfortable with. We recommend the following tips for your plan:
Make an Emergency Supplies Kit
Put together some basic disaster supplies and store them in a location that would be easy to access during an emergency. Flashlights, water, batteries and chargers will be crucial should a disaster hit. Ready.gov has a full list of supplies to help you build a kit.
Review Your Homeowners Insurance
If you own your home, you will want to make sure that you are covered should anything happen to your home during a disaster. Check your homeowners insurance to be sure you have the best plan for your home.
Check Your Exterior
If you are able, replace any gravel or rock landscaping materials with fire-resistant material that won’t cause as much harm and cut any weak branches or trees that could fall on your home. Make sure your garage doors and tracks are up to code, your doors have at least three hinges and a dead bolt and seal any outside wall openings to prevent water from entering your home. If a disaster is looming and you have time to safely remove or secure any outdoor furniture, do so immediately.
Know Where to Go
It’s important to stay up-to-date on the weather during hurricane season, so make sure you’re regularly checking the National Weather Service website and have emergency alerts on your phone turned on. If the National Weather Service has advised you to shelter in place, go to a small interior room in your home with no windows (most likely a closet or bathroom) and take down anything on the walls that could potentially fall and cause harm. If you are instructed to evacuate, do so immediately.
Keeping you, your loved ones and your home safe during a disaster is of utmost importance. Be sure you are communicating and staying vigilant so you’re ready no matter what type of disaster hits.
If your home has been impacted by disaster and you are elderly, have special needs or your income is low, you may be eligible for urgent repairs, comprehensive rehabilitation or accessibility modifications. Contact one of our current Community Partners for more information.
