Changing global weather conditions have many Florida homeowners concerned with disaster prevention. While many disasters cannot be prevented, you can minimize the damage in many situations. The type of pending disaster dictates the precautions that must be taken.
The first step anyone should take is to store personal documents such as insurance papers in a plastic zip-lock bag. In the event of an evacuation, you can grab your important papers quickly. The documents can be stored in an emergency kit. To prepare an emergency kit, you can buy a heavy-duty plastic case. You should buy first-aid supplies, personal hygiene items, snacks and small bottles of water. Store these supplies in the case along with your important documents. This case should be placed in a closet close to the front door or in the garage. You may want to pack a suitcase with emergency clothes and store the suitcase next to the emergency kit.
To protect your property and personal belongings is challenging depending on the disaster. For example, if a brush fire is frighteningly close to your home, you should douse the surrounding area with as much water as possible. In addition, you will spray as much water as possible on your home. Chances are you will be required to evacuate and will have little time to save many of your personal belongings. If a fire is close, you will want to begin preparation before it moves closer to your home.
During hurricane season, homeowners have ample time to prepare for a disaster. The first step is to board all windows. Even if you do not have to evacuate, boarding the windows will minimize the damage of flying debris. All patio furniture, grills and yard items should be stored in the garage or house. These items are dangerous during high winds. If your home is in a flood zone, the only prevention is to sand bag the area surrounding your home. If you have a two-story home, you can move furniture and personal belongings to the second floor. Unfortunately, flooding can occur quickly and this reduces the amount of time you have to prepare.
While your property and belongings are important, the most critical part of disaster prevention is establishing an evacuation plan for your family. This plan should include a safe meeting place in the event family members become separated. This plan should be reviewed each year and each family member should have a copy of the plan. You can create a mini-version of the plan on wallet-size cards.
Furniture, appliances, and your home can be replaced. However, personal photos can be lost forever. This may seem like a trivial item, however, most people regret having lost precious memories because photos were destroyed. Simply scan all your family photos to create a digital file of your memories. Store all the scanned and digital photos on a compact disc or flash drive. Store the disc or flash drive in your emergency kit.
In the event of any disaster, do not panic. Stay calm and follow your emergency plan.