How To Be Prepared For Emergencies In Your New Home

How To Be Prepared For Emergencies In Your New Home

Here in Huntsville Alabama as in many other cities and states, "How To Be Prepared For Emergencies In Your New Home" is on every ones mind.  Especially in light of recent tornado outbreaks and with the April 27th, 2011 devastation where some 62 tornadoes were reported still fresh in our thoughts, a visual reminder still exists in areas slow to recover from that day.

You may not consider revising or updating you emergency plan or maybe you never had one...all the more important that you read on.  Natural disasters don't usually give you a lot if any advance warning so to avoid being taken by surprise with possible lives at risk consider forming an emergency plan.  The following are steps you can take to prepare yourself and keep your family safe.

Prepare for emergencies and make a plan

With all the natural disasters we are subject to in our country it's a little surprising that many people do not have a plan for emergencies, where to go, what to do.  A good place to start is to learn what disasters commonly affect your area.  Here in Huntsville and the surrounding area we see tornadoes and flash flooding.  There are community resources that can help your plan to prepare.  WEAs: The national weather service provides free Wireless Emergency Updates - via warning customized to your area.  Consider apps such as Weather Bug or Simple Weather Alert offering weather warnings to your phone or desktop. And, of course listening to NOAA Weather Radio is always a great resource.

Particularly with Tornadoes it's important to know where the local storm shelter locations are.  There are relatively few homes here in Alabama with basements, usually a good place to weather out a tornado.  However, more homes here in the Huntsville and Madison Alabama area are being built with safe rooms and dedicated storm shelters.

Things to do:

Hurricanes:  Turn off propane tanks and small appliances. Switch the refrigerator and freezer to highest setting and secure them closed.  Board up windows without hurricane shutters. Consult the American Red Cross for a hurricane specific emergency kit.

Tornadoes:  You really need to determine your safest underground shelter in your home and at work or find the most protected interior room.

Flooding:  You should already be aware of nearby streams, rivers, culverts or drainage channels that may fill quickly and cut of evacuation routes when you hear flood warnings. 

Earthquakes:  Be aware of items in your home or work place that may cause you harm should they fall and secure furnishings. being constantly aware of "safe areas" in your home, staying away from windows, or hanging objects and mirrors.

Fire:  If a fire starts in your home you need to get out and stay out and call 911. Make sure everyone knows all possible exits.

Evacuation ready: In the past we've seen city evacuations that can be chaotic; keep calm, have your safety kit available.  You may not have time for a gas station stop or long lines may also present a problem so if possible, safely keep extra fuel available.  Community websites  can be a resource for safe evacuation and don't wait...evacuate if that's what local community leaders are stressing. I hope this has been of some help answer your question about how to be prepared for emergencies in your new home. 

Some original content was posted at...http://nicktpappas.com/?p=2087 

image courtesy Stuart Miles/freedigitalphotos.net

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