No place on Earth is immune to natural disasters. Whether you’re dealing with excessive flooding or abundant earthquakes, there will always be some sort of natural threat to which your home is vulnerable. That’s why it’s so important to account for every scenario. While natural disasters can strike unexpectedly, that doesn’t mean you can’t be well-prepared to handle them. Consider the following precautions when disaster-proofing your home:
1. Understand Regional Disaster Risks
Wherever you live, there’s a strong likelihood that certain types of natural disasters will occur more often than others. Flooding and cyclones are more prominent on the East Coast, while earthquakes are more prolific on the West Coast. If you live in the Midwest, there’s a stronger chance you’ll encounter tornadoes. One of the wisest steps you can take to prepare for natural disasters is to learn which natural disasters are most common for your area.
Once you know, you can focus on protecting your home against them. For example, it wouldn’t make much sense for a homeowner in California to invest heavily in hurricane shutters but neglect earthquake retrofitting. Similarly, someone living in a flood-prone area in Florida should prioritize installing flood barriers and sump pumps rather than earthquake braces. Tailoring your disaster preparedness efforts to the specific risks in your region ensures that your home is better equipped to handle the most likely threats.
2. Get Financial Protection
As soon as you purchase a home, you’ll want to protect it by getting home insurance. Yet, when living in an area prone to natural disasters, that’s easier said than done because obtaining home insurance requires additional considerations. Standard policies might not cover specific natural events like hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods. Therefore, it’s essential to look into specialized coverage options.
Start by getting a home insurance quote from multiple insurers to compare coverage terms and premiums. Prices and coverage can vary significantly depending on the insurer’s assessment of risk in your area. Many insurance providers will evaluate certain areas as “low-risk” or “high-risk” based on factors such as historical data of natural disasters, proximity to fault lines, flood zones, and the frequency and severity of storms. This will undoubtedly affect the cost of the insurance, depending on where you live.
For instance, flood insurance for low-risk flood zones in Florida will often lean toward $500 per year for coverage. On the flip side, high-risk flood zones will cost upward of $2,500 per year. You want to get quotes from multiple providers to understand who will cover your property in the most comprehensive way at the most affordable cost.
3. Minimize Hazards Around Your Home
Even with a great insurance policy, there are instances when a claim can be denied. For example, if you live in an area prone to windstorms and have a dead tree limb overhanging your car, it is your responsibility to remove it. If that limb causes damage during a storm and the insurer believes you were aware of the hazard, they may deny your claim.
Insurance companies often require homeowners to take reasonable steps to maintain and protect their property. This includes scheduling regular maintenance and addressing potential hazards. Make sure to regularly trim any nearby trees, secure loose outdoor objects like trampolines, and maintain the roof and gutters to prevent storm damage. Similarly, reinforce windows and doors and check the foundation to mitigate risks associated with flooding.
If you don’t know where to start, ask your insurance agent to help you pinpoint what would not be covered after a natural disaster. In many cases, insurance companies will do this anyway before approving specific types of coverage. But it doesn’t hurt to be proactive to control risks and increase your chances of an approved claim.
4. Implement Protective Measures Inside
Part of responsible disaster preparedness includes readying the interior of your home for any incidents you are prone to. Think about every possible scenario that could occur if a natural disaster were to strike. If your region experiences frequent earthquakes, consider fastening your furniture to the walls. If your basement floods, store items on shelves a few inches off the floor. You might even consider investing in basement waterproofing to fight against seepage.
Every circumstance you can predict should have a pre-planned solution to address it. Go through each room in your home and imagine what would happen if a particular disaster struck. What can you do to mitigate risk? This simple exercise can reveal exactly how prepared (or unprepared) you are.
While evaluating the interior of your home, make sure you have a safe space to retreat to when the weather gets out of hand. This should be a reinforced area, ideally located in the interior of your home, away from windows and exterior walls. This will provide maximum protection against high winds or flying debris. Keep in mind, if your area is at risk of severe flooding or there’s a rapidly approaching wildfire, it’s often safer to evacuate. Have an established evacuation plan to keep you and your loved ones safe.
Stack the Odds in Your Favor
Noone can be completely prepared for every natural disaster, but you can stack the odds in your favor. Go through the motions of assessing your property, and look for obvious weaknesses. Then, address them! Taking appropriate preventative measures will help you keep the people and possessions in your home safe.
