Are You Prepared for a Disaster?

December 4, 2019

Extreme weather is a common phenomenon here in the New England region. Unfortunately, the wild weather can create dangerous conditions and cause massive damage to homes and property. Winter storms in particular are especially damaging as they can bring a mix of winds, precipitation, and freezing temperatures. Recently our area has experienced the rare but all too common microburst that residents need to prepare for the more likely Nor’easter or blizzard. Are your prepared for a disaster?

The Farmer’s Almanac often gives warnings in advance of how each winter is estimated to turn out, whether it will be unusually cold, windy, or snowy. The Almanac is not always accurate, but they do provide some great ways to prepare for the coming changes in weather.

Create an Emergency Kit

From a disaster restoration perspective, we often only see the aftermath of damage from storms, fires, floods, burst pipes, and ice damage. Having an emergency kit ready to go in the event of a natural or manmade disaster is a good way to be prepared.

The Department of Homeland Security released a list of items that you should have in one location in case of a disaster. The items include: water, non-perishable food, batteries, a portable (battery operated) radio, flashlights, a complete first aid kit, cell phone chargers and backup battery charger, and a small tool kit. For a complete list see the FEMA Supply List.

Create an Important Document File

In addition to an emergency kit, we recommend that all homeowners and renters have a file, either paper or digital, that has a copy of all of your important documents. Immediately after a disaster like a fire, blizzard, flood, or other acts of nature, you will want to have access to paperwork. For example, the phone number and name of your insurance agent, personal identification documents, medical documents, contact lists, banking documents, and personal family photos are things you will wish you had at hand. Be sure that your document file is either in digital form that can be easily retrieved, or in a water/fireproof container.

Hold a Disaster Meeting

Just like families plan escape routes and meeting places in the case of fire, you should do the same for other potential events as well. In this planning, you should also consider, where would you escape to in the case of a weather phenomenon? Would you see local shelter or find family members to take you in? You will also want to know what to do in the case of an event that you can assist in preventing. For instance, if your pipes freeze, do you know where the main water can be shut off in your home? Do you have fire extinguishers to stop a grill fire from spreading to your home? Do you know how to turn off the gas in the case of a leak or shut down your furnace if something goes terribly wrong. A meeting with your family (or at least your partner) can help plan for these events so they do not turn catastrophic.

In the case that your home or apartment does sustain damage due to a storm, natural disaster, or hazardous event, do you know who you can call for clean up and restoration? Pro-Care offers many disaster restoration services that can help get you back on your feet and into your home faster. Call us at (781) 933-7400 – Toll Free (800) 660-1973, or find our contact page on our website.

Categorized in: disaster preparedness