Proactive Disaster Planning: How to Prepare for the Worst
Disaster usually strikes when you least expect it. While it’s sometimes unpreventable and unavoidable, you can feel a little more confident to face any emergency situation if you’ve prepared yourself, your family, and your home. Check out our tips below for proactive disaster planning.
How to be Prepared for a Fire
- Have a fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year with your entire family, including pets. Identify two exits per room in your plan. Designate a safe meeting spot outside your home as well.
- Install smoke detectors on every level of your home, as well as in every bedroom and hallway. Check their batteries once a month, and swap out the batteries every 6 months.
- You can install monitored smoke detectors that are connected to a home security monitoring center, adding an extra layer of protection beyond battery-operated smoke alarms.
- Keep at least one fire extinguisher on each floor of your home as well as in the garage. Educate your entire family on how to properly use them.
- Make sure your kids know how to call 9-1-1, ensuring they call only in case of emergency.
- Store important documents and valuables in a fireproof safe or lock box.
- Check out our full list of what you should store in a fireproof safe here.
- Take photos or video of as many of your belongings as you can.
- Having documentation of your belongings will help prove to your insurance company what items were damaged or lost in a fire.
- Keep collars and leashes at the ready in case you have to evacuate quickly with your pet(s).
- On a static window cling, write down the number of pets in your house and attach it to a front window. Firefighters will see be able to see this and know how many pets are inside the house. Make sure to update this anytime the number of pets in your home changes.
- Keep the contact information of your insurance agent and a reputable emergency restoration contractor in your phone so you can get immediate help after suffering a fire.
How to be Prepared for a Water Emergency
- Make sure your sump pump is working properly when heavy rain or flooding is imminent.
- Know how to shut off your home’s water and utilities.
- Have an evacuation plan in case of severe flooding.
- Take photos or videos of as many of your belongings as you can.
- Having documentation of your belongings will help prove to your insurance company what items were damaged or lost in a flood.
- Anything stored in your basement should be kept on high shelving to avoid being damaged in a flood.
- Keep the contact information of your insurance agent and a reputable water mitigation company in your phone so you can get immediate help for water damage.
- Quick action is crucial to prevent further damage and ensure a full recovery.
How to be Prepared for a Storm
- Have multiple ways to receive emergency weather alerts.
- This could include a smart phone, TV, and radio.
- Make sure everyone in your household knows what to do and where to go when severe weather strikes.
- Have a plan on how you will communicate in the midst of and after an emergency.
- Mobile networks can become overwhelmed if a lot of people are trying to make calls in an emergency. Text messages, however, use less bandwidth and can be transmitted more reliably. Social media is another great way to communicate with family and friends during or after an emergency.
- Build an emergency kit.
- Check out our list of everything you should keep in your emergency kit here.
- Keep the contact information of your insurance agent and an emergency board up and tarping company in your phone so you can get immediate help for storm damage.
Start Disaster Planning Now!
You never know when disaster is going to strike, so now is the time to be proactive. Follow all the steps above to be more prepared for a worst-case scenario.
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