Safety Tips for Potential Disaster Threats

Tips Related to Specific Threats

What mitigation actions can I take to protect my home? View some of the safety tips below to keep you and your family safe.

Fire

  • Buy a fire extinguisher and know how to use it.
  • Install residential sprinklers, especially for those who cannot escape quickly.
  • Install smoke detectors on every level of your home. Test them monthly.
  • Keep electrical appliances and wiring in good repair. Don't overload circuits.
  • Keep fireplaces and wood stoves clean. Keep storage areas free of trash.
  • Purchase a fire-proof safe for your valuables and records.
  • Store flammable liquids and gasoline outside in tight metal containers. Only use outdoors.

Floods

  • Buy a fire extinguisher and know how to use it.
  • Install residential sprinklers, especially for those who cannot escape quickly.
  • Install smoke detectors on every level of your home. Test them monthly.
  • Keep electrical appliances and wiring in good repair. Don't overload circuits.
  • Keep fireplaces and wood stoves clean. Keep storage areas free of trash.
  • Purchase a fire-proof safe for your valuables and records.
  • Store flammable liquids and gasoline outside in tight metal containers. Only use outdoors.

Power Outages
Purchase a back-up generator for your home. Make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions in order to properly hook one up or get an electrician to do it.

Summer Weather

  • Buy fans to spread cool air around your home.
  • Close floor heat registers nearby.
  • Install air conditioners snugly and insulate spaces around them. Check air ducts for proper insulation.
  • Install temporary reflectors, such as aluminum foil covered cardboard, to reflect any heat back outside.
  • Keep the cool air inside by weather-stripping doors and windowsills.
Thunderstorms & Lightning
  • Have your home inspected to make sure it is properly grounded for lightning strikes.
  • Install a lightning protection system, which provides a safe path for grounding electric current. They are not noticeable and do not attract lightning. For local suppliers, look in the phonebook under Lightning Protection.
  • Install surge protectors to shield electrical equipment and appliances. These range from surge protectors for each item to those that protect the entire house.
Winter Weather
  • Check battery-powered equipment, heating fuel, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.
  • Install insulation and winter stripping.
  • Insulate pipes that are exposed to the cold and remove garden hoses from outside faucets.
  • Let faucets drip during subzero conditions (if pipes freeze easily) or if instructed by the water company. Be able to shut off water lines.
  • Winterize your car, maintain a full tank of gas, and keep moisture out of the tank. Keep an emergency kit in your car to help you stay warm, visible, and alive if trapped.
Additional Information
To learn more about how you can protect your home, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes has created a fantastic website with videos, do-it-yourself guides, and many other great resources.