Tag: Disaster Preparedness

Typically, once a natural disaster happens, most people are unprepared, and everything has already been too late. Although damages are inevitable to some degree, we can minimize them with the right disaster preparedness plan. The lives of our loved ones must be on the top priority. And relying solely on spontaneous survival instinct will mostly end up badly.

The worst misconception about disaster preparedness is that some people think they may not need it. But landslides, shifting soil, building collapse, fire, strong wind, earthquake, and flood always come without warning. Here are some tips to improve your preparedness in facing a disaster.

Investigating the Area’s History

You should trace back local newspapers to the past five years. See if there were natural disasters that can threaten your house, and you should act accordingly. If you do not find any, remember that you are still not safe.

All homes are under the threat of fire because a minor human error can burn the whole house to the ground. And do not think that only kids and elders who can make mistakes such as leaving the stove burning, dropping a burning candle, etc. People who live alone also have the possibility to experience a fire. Gas leak, faulty outlets, and outdated wiring are just several examples of fire causes that can start without a person.

Reinforcing the House

If your area is in a wildfire’s track, making the house fireproof is necessary for survival. The fire spreads mostly from the roof. And surely, wood materials on the roof and deck cannot guarantee your safety. The house wall should also be improved. Regular concrete can transfer and trap heat in the inside of the building, which can be lethal to anyone in the house. Also, if the wall is too hard to breach, the firefighters will struggle to save you. Consult a roofer to see which roof materials can protect your house from fire.

To face flood, you may need to prepare sandbags and water sealants. They help to prevent the water from flooding in. But the best way to overcome water is to direct its course to the sewer. Therefore you have to check if there are any clogs in the house.

As for landslides and earthquakes, you may need to do a total house renovation. If you live in a vulnerable region, your house should be built with light-weighted and sturdy materials.

Knowing the Recovery Services

After a disaster, you are the one who is supposed to clean up all the mess. The government will restore the city’s system, but they will not help you to bring back the couch you have lost or to remove the flood mud in the house. Luckily, some companies make fortunes out of other’s misfortunes.

Fire and water damage restoration companies are the most popular type in the business because flooding, fire, and water-related issues happen quite a lot. And for your information, water damage companies, like water damage, handle not only big flooding caused by heavy rain but also flood caused by broken pipes and overloaded sewer. They can clean your house and restore its look like nothing bad has ever happened.…