Natural Disasters: How to Prevent Home Damage

When natural disaster strikes there is little or no time to make sure our home is safeguarded against any damage that may come. The best way to protect ourselves and our homes is to prepare ahead. This article will look at a few different types of natural disasters and help devise safety measures to use in case your home is in a disaster area.

Earthquakes

Earthquakes are considered problems mostly in California, however they can happen anywhere. Any location that is built on or near a fault line is at risk. A fault line is where two tectonic plates meet. The plates push against each other making the area around the fault prone to earthquakes.

Earthquakes can do enormous damage to homes. Even small aftershocks can cause vibrations strong enough to shatter glass and destroy valuables. Making preparations for your home can ensure your possessions stay intact.

To prevent home damage it is safe to first assess the foundation. Make sure you account for the cost to repair the

foundation is cracked. Have your home bolted to the foundation every six feet around the perimeter. Next, secure appliances such as the water heater, refrigerator, and any gas appliances. This will prevent fires from starting from a broken gas main. Secure any overhead light, cupboards, and bookshelves. Make sure heavy objects are kept low so they don’t fall on anyone. If an object cannot be tied down, place them in cabinets that fasten shut.

Tornadoes and Hurricanes

It seems like every year there are more storms that come with deadly force. These powerful windstorms can rip your home apart with little warning and no consideration for your property. Realities of these storm aftermath can include: missing roofs, broken walls, or completely demolished houses and worse.

No one wants to abandon their home so try to take some steps to save it from harm. Brace your garage door and lock/ deadbolt your windows and doors to make sure they do not fly open. A good idea if this is a frequent occurrence in the region is to build a safe room. When the wind comes into the home, it creates a positive push at the same time that the wind swirling above the structure creates a negative pull. That push and pull combination can cause the roof to fly off, so the next step is to make sure that it is secured well. Make sure all roof shingles are tight, and consider straps to bolt the roof to the main structure. Finally make sure there are no loose limbs around; they can act as projectiles and break a window during a storm. 

Flash Floods

Flooding can come with any strong storm surge or hurricane, but there are steps we can take to save our basement. Most importantly is finding a way to divert the water away from the home. Clean out gutters to assure the water can run though the spouts as intended. Extending the downspouts further away can ensure that puddles don't form near the foundation and seep into the basement.

Natural disasters are bound to happen, but they do not have to hurt us or cause damage to our property. Be ready for anything. Practice prevention rather than face the cost of timely repairs.

 

Author's Note

When natural disaster strikes there is little or no time to make sure our home is safeguarded against any damage that may come.