In a previous post we shared with you some tips for being prepared in case of a natural disaster. Here are additional things you can do to be prepared in case of an emergency:
Make a plan with your neighbors. Who will handle things if you are away from home when trouble hits? Make sure this person has your emergency contact number as well as possible ways to reach you – email, cell phone, Twitter, etc. Locate local emergency shelters. Know where to go if you can’t go back into your home. Find out where the closest shelters are, and if you have pets, find out their policy. Not all shelters accept pets, but many do. Know your emergency escape routes from your area. What roads would be used if you need to evacuate your neighborhood? Utility shut-offs. Have a plan in place and a person designated to shut off the electrical, water, and gas supply to your home, if it’s available to do that ahead of time. Take a basic first aid course; if you’ve already had one but it has been awhile, take a refresher course. The Red Cross offers basic first aid training, and often larger medical clinics and health systems do as well. Stock up on emergency supplies. In addition to your weather radio and first aid kit, you should have one gallon of water per person and pet per day as well as nonperishable food for three days; include a manual can opener. There are various emergency sites you can visit to obtain a checklist of emergency supplies. For further suggestions, visit the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) site for disaster kit info. Have a well-marked house number at your curb for emergency vehicles to quickly locate you. A number somewhere besides the one on the house is helpful.
The most common natural disasters that affect us here in Minnesota are fire, flooding, tornadoes, and severe winter storms. Here are some disaster-specific tips.
To reduce damage from flooding:
Waterproof your basement Raise electrical appliances on the lower level up at least a foot – have furnaces, water heaters, and washer/dryer units put up on pedestals Keep gutters and downspouts cleaned out Find out from your insurance agent if your are in a potential flood zone, and make sure you have appropriate insurance coverage
To reduce the potential of fire damage:
Cut back tree limbs which overhang the house Remodel with nonflammable materials such as steel siding and roofing, fiber cement siding, etc. Add tempered and double-pane glass windows to reduce the chance of shattering Keep plantings such as trees and large shrubs at least 5′ from the house; this cuts down on fuel for flying embers Keep your lawn well watered and mowed a up to a distance of 30′ from your house
Dealing with the threat of tornadoes:
Even if your home is constructed according to code, whether or not it will withstand the impact of a tornado is questionable. The best thing you can do to protect yourself in case of a tornado is to seek safe shelter. Consider building a safe room in your home, or find out where there are emergency tornado shelters nearby.
Being prepared for emergencies can bring you peace of mind as well as reducing the potential for damage and injury. In our next post we’ll talk about preparing for severe winter weather.
