Protect Your Home from Natural Disasters
March 23, 2010
Any homeowner knows how important it is to keep one’s home safe from natural disasters. While you can be given some level of advanced warning for things such as hurricanes, other disasters such as earthquakes hit out nowhere. Of course certain areas are more prone to particular natural disasters than others. One wouldn’t expect to be hit by a tornado if one lives in the Tropics. Similarly, those who inhabit very cold regions have little to fear from hurricanes. Still, the world’s weather patterns are changing and it would be irresponsible for any homeowner to ignore the very real threat posed by natural disasters.
If one has lived in an area for a while then they will already be familiar with the types of natural disasters that they can expect to have to deal with. If one is new to a neighborhood then it is always a good idea to ask questions. Remember that, while there are some general precautions, each type of natural disaster will have its own precautionary measures.
As seen in the news recently, earthquakes can be particularly devastating. There is little that one can do if one’s home is already built, unless one is willing to go through costly structural renovations. If one lives along a fault line then this may be a necessity rather than an option. Barring overall collapse of the structure, the greatest danger from an earthquake is from falling items. Therefore, everything in the household should be securely fastened. This includes any pictures or other items hanging on walls. Bookcases, cabinets and other such furniture can be secured by means of bolts or l-brackets. Even the water heater should be fastened to a wall.
To protect one’s home from storm damage, one should always ensure that the house is in good order and that there are no leaks. Check the roof to make certain that there are no loose areas. Trim any branches that may be close to the home and which could become missiles in high winds. A good investment is storm shutters for the windows, and even the garage door. Gutters, drains, and anything that forms part of the drainage system should be properly cleared so that there will be no blockage of water causing a back-up on the property.
No one can say for certain when a natural disaster is likely to hit, although some areas are luckier than others. While one may not be able to completely prevent any damage from occurring to one’s home, one can at least keep it to a minimum. Anything else can be dealt with by a reputable restoration company.
