5 Ways to Prepare Your Property for Natural Disasters

With fires raging, mudslides, hurricanes, tsunamis, earth quakes, and more, our homes are constantly in the cross hairs of a potential natural disaster. No matter where we live there is always the threat of a disaster – no matter if the devastation is minor to severe it is always critical to make sure that your property is protected. The roof over your head is one of the most important things you have – besides your family of course. Luckily, there are a number of ways to protect your home from natural disasters so that when it happens, you are much better prepared. Here are 5 ways to prepare your property for natural disasters.

1. Know what the particular risks are. If you live in some parts of California, earthquakes might be the biggest risk, but if you live in Ohio or the Midwest, tornados might be the biggest threat. Knowing what some of these risks and threats are will allow you to better prepare your home. Perhaps this is as simple as making sure that no heavy items can fall in the instance of an earthquake or that your have a storm shelter.
2. Improve your home to withstand natural disasters. If floods are a threat where you live, you might want to put your entire home on risers so that you don’t wake up one morning and the second floor of your home is now the first floor and you have to take a boat to safety. Or, if hurricanes are a threat, you might want to install durable windows or straps to help keep down your roof. When it comes to natural disasters, there are a lot of improvements you can make to your home to make it more impervious to damage.
3. Have an emergency kit readily available. Every home should be stocked with the basics, like a first aid kit and plenty of canned goods. In addition, there should be a fresh stock of batteries, a flashlight and a radio. You might also want to keep a few whistles or noisemakers, just in case you get stuck and need to call for help. Make sure that you keep this kit in a place where anyone can find it and be sure to replace any items if they are used or go missing.
4. Get homeowner’s insurance. Having coverage of your home from natural disaster might be the only way you can get your house back if it is damaged or destroyed in the even of a catastrophe. For instance, if you live in Florida, and you want to protect your home against hurricanes or even sink holes, you should get a Florida homeowners insurance policy that covers natural disasters.
5. Create a plan. Posted clearly in your home – perhaps on the refrigerator – should be an escape plan. This plan should include where to meet if family members get separated and even where to congregate in the home if there is a natural disaster. One of the best ways to prepare your home is to have a plan of action and to make sure that everyone in your home is on the same page.