Given the devastation, Hurricane Harvey wreaked on major Texas cities, the potential damage that Hurricane Irma may cause to Florida, and the chaos the local wildfires wreaked in Sun Valley; this article is designed to aid our readers in preparing for a disaster in Southern California. Ultimately, it’s just a smart idea to take steps to minimize risks, make your home secure, and protect your family from harm.
Based on recent events, it is clear that certain parts of the Country are more susceptible to disasters than others. The gulf coast has massive hurricanes, Middle America is Tornado Alley, and Southern California gets earthquakes bouncing us around like a child in the back of a pick-up truck on a bumpy road. This article briefly addresses five (5) simple steps any homeowner should take to protect themselves, and their family: (1) Know the risks, (2) know your home’s weaknesses, (3) prepare an emergency kit, (4) prepare an inventory; and (5) practice an emergency plan.
Know the Risks
The first step is always to identify the problem. If you know what risks you’re facing, you can tailor your emergency plan to realistic, and foreseeable, disasters. While we know that Southern California is at a high risk for earthquakes, it can’t hurt to inform yourself of what disasters certain areas of the country are susceptible to as well. This information can be found here. Additionally, after identifying the risks your home may face, it is a good idea to double-check your homeowner’s insurance policy to make sure you are covered for these types of damage; earthquake damage is frequently excluded from insurance policies.
Know Your Home’s Weaknesses
It is natural to feel overwhelmed and helpless when attempting to protect your home from natural disasters. The sheer power of these events leaves most people wondering how they could possibly prevent damage from a force that massive. There are disaster-specific improvements, which reduce the risk of damage to your home. A list of these improvements can be found here.
Prepare an Emergency Kit
The worst thing you can do in a disaster is be unprepared. It is imperative that every household have an emergency kit that is easily accessible in the event of a disaster. Ready.gov suggests that all homes have the following:
- One gallon of water for each person in your household, per day. It is advised that all households are prepared for three (3) days without clean water.
- Enough non-perishable food to last for three (3) days.
- A battery powered radio, along with additional batteries. This will allow you to be continuously updated about rescue efforts.
- A flashlight with extra batteries; in the event of a massive earthquake, it is unlikely you will have power for a few days.
- A first aid kit; earthquakes cause windows to shatter, it is likely that people will have minor cuts and scratches – it is better to take care of open wounds early to avoid infection.
- A cell phone, with chargers; most relief efforts place a priority on getting communication channels up and running; this allows them to identify those in the most urgent need of help.
- Cash, or traveler’s checks. In the event of a major earthquake, it is unlikely that banks will be open. You will need to purchase supplies eventually.
Prepare an Inventory
Taking inventory of all your personal property is a time-consuming process, but it will pay for itself in the event that a natural disaster strikes. It is unlikely that you will be able to remember every piece of property you once had and now lost, because of disaster. A prepared inventory means proper reimbursement from your insurer.
Practice an Emergency Plan
It is important to have a comprehensive emergency plan, which addresses things like: (1) where and when you will meet your family if you are separated when a disaster strikes, (2) exit paths from each room of your home if a disaster strikes; and (3) step-by-step instructions on how to turn of utilities when the disaster has subsided (these frequently cause fires). It is essential that you practice your plan so that when it is time to execute the plan, it comes as second nature. Natural disasters can be disorienting, and practice will mitigate that.
The damage from disasters cannot be solely attributed to the disaster itself, some of the devastation is a result of homeowners failing to be properly prepared. Follow these steps, and give yourself peace of mind.