Extreme weather events are more frequent than ever. Do you have a disaster preparedness plan?
Extreme weather is no longer an anomaly; it’s the norm. With extreme weather on the rise, it’s imperative to have a personal disaster preparedness plan.
Get ready
While there’s little you can do to prevent extreme weather, you can prepare yourself and your family. There’s a campaign by the American Public Health Association (APHA) that can help individuals, communities, businesses and schools prepare for emergencies.
Follow these tips from APHA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to prepare your family for the next climate disaster.
Preparation tips by disaster
Snowstorms
Install carbon monoxide sensors on every home of your floor. Make sure they have backup batteries.
Add extra furnace oil and a gas-powered heat source to your emergency supplies.
For your car, make sure you have antifreeze, a snow scraper, a flashlight, tow chains and a bag of salt. Fill up your gas tank. If you live in a rural area, store a flare gun and distress flag in your car. During the winter, keep some extra food and water in your car in case you’re stranded during a storm.
Wildfires
Pay attention to air quality alerts. Visit airnow.gov for local air quality reports. When the Air Quality Index (AQI) is above 150, it’s considered unhealthy and most people should avoid spending time outdoors.
Replace the HVAC filters in your home every three months, or more frequently if your air quality is poor. Designate a room that can be closed off from the outside and purchase a portable air purifier. You can use this as a safe room if the air quality becomes hazardous.
Make your home more fire-resistant:
- Space plants and ensure they are low-growing and free of resins, oils and waxes that burn easily.
- Mow the lawn regularly.
- Prune trees up to six to 10 feet from the ground.
- Create a “fire-free area” around your home by using nonflammable landscaping materials, such as high-moisture-content annuals or perennials.
- Remove all dead vegetation within 10 feet of the house to create a small fire barrier.
- Choose outdoor furniture and swing sets that are fire-resistant.
- Don’t stack firewood too close to the house, as it can serve as fuel if a fire breaks out.
- Clean your roof gutters to prevent dry leaves and branches from collecting.
Heat waves
Find out where the cooling shelters are in your area. Call 211 or check with your local news outlets.
Install a window air-conditioning unit if you do not have central air.
Keep plenty of water on hand. You should have enough for one gallon per person per day.
Learn the signs of heat-related illness:
- Confusion
- Cramps
- Dizziness
- Exhaustion
- Fainting
- Headaches
- Muscle aches
- Rashes
- Vomiting
- Hallucinations
- Profuse sweating accompanied by wet, red skin
- No sweating accompanied by dry, red skin (This is extremely dangerous.)
Tornadoes
Get familiar with your community’s tornado warning system. If you live in an area prone to tornadoes, learn to recognize the sirens and what they mean.
Identify a safe space to shelter in during a tornado. A basement or storm cellar is ideal. If those aren’t options, choose a small interior room (without windows) on the lowest level of your home.
Know the signs of a tornado:
- A rotating, funnel-shaped cloud
- A cloud of debris
- A loud roar
Hurricanes and floods
Learn if your city has an emergency plan for floods. Identify shelter locations near you.
Find out which roads are close to waterways so you can plan your evacuation route.
Get a tetanus booster shot in case you get injured in a flood. Adults should get this shot every 10 years. If you have children, follow your pediatrician’s vaccination schedule.
Install a sump pump in your basement. Add a battery-operated backup pump in case your power goes out.
Elevate your valuables and utilities off the ground. These include electrical panels, propane tanks, sockets, wiring, appliances and HVAC systems.
Regularly clean your gutters and downspouts so water can run off your roof.
If a hurricane is imminent:
- Secure loose items from your yard such as umbrellas, toys, trampolines, etc.
- Set your freezer to the lowest temperature to preserve perishables for as long as possible.
- Fill your sinks and bathtubs with water for emergency water reserves.
- Fill up your car’s gas tank.
- Follow evacuation orders.
- If instructed to evacuate, turn off your power at the fuse box.
- Raise valuables and furniture off the floor to minimize water damage.
- Board up windows and doors to prevent glass from breaking.
Earthquakes
Learn how to shut off the electrical, water and gas supplies to your house.
Practice, dropping, covering and holding on to a sturdy object.
- Drop onto your hands and knees to maintain your balance and reduce your chances of getting hit by falling objects.
- Cover your head and neck with your arm and hand.
- Get under a sturdy piece of furniture and hold on. If there’s no shelter nearby, get close to an interior wall.
What to include in your emergency supplies
- Water (one gallon per person per day)
- Ready-to-eat and canned foods
- A manual can opener
- A first-aid kit
- Diapers, formula and other essential supplies for infants and children
- Pet food, if applicable
- A list of prescription medications, including dosages
- A battery-powered radio
- Flashlights
- Extra batteries
- Candles and matches
- Blankets
- Emergency contact information
- An extra pair of prescription glasses (no contacts)
- Extra sets of clothing for each family member (at least socks and underwear)
- Copies of your passports, driver’s licenses, birth certificates and Social Security cards
- A grab-and-go bag with essentials, in case you need to evacuate
Other tips
Download the FEMA app (Android, iPhone) to receive alerts from the National Weather Service about severe weather in your area.
Learn about the emergency plans of your workplace and kids’ schools in case an emergency happens when you’re not at home.
If someone in your home has special needs, inform your local police and fire departments. If you have pets, make arrangements for them. Most community shelters won’t allow animals (other than service animals).
Designate an out-of-state contact and a meetup spot. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call when communications are unreliable. And if your family gets separated during an emergency, you’ll have a shared contact unaffected by the event. Make sure your family knows who this person is and their phone number.
Get trained in first aid or CPR so you’ll be prepared to help if someone is injured in a disaster. Check the American Red Cross website for training courses near you.
Create and regularly update your home inventory. If extreme weather destroys your home, you’ll need to account for all of your belongings when you file your homeowners insurance claim. Using a home inventory app like Encircle, Itemtopia or Nest Egg can help you categorize your possessions and sort items by room. Some even allow you to scan bar codes and QR codes and upload photos and videos.
Finally, meet with your insurance agent for a coverage review. Standard homeowners policies exclude certain climate-related events, such as floods and earthquakes. For these risks, you’ll need separate policies. Your insurance agent can help you determine what types of coverage you need and how much.
Climate disasters are an unfortunate reality we all have to live with. Prepare now so you’ll be ready when the next disaster strikes.
Have you been impacted by intense weather over the recent years? Contact our Personal Insurance Team for information about how to lessen your risks.
This content is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing professional, financial, medical or legal advice. You should contact your licensed professional to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Please refer to your policy contract for any specific information or questions on applicability of coverage.
Please note coverage can not be bound or a claim reported without written acknowledgment from a OneGroup Representative.
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