Extreme weather can occur at various times of the year, depending on the part of the world that you call home. If you live in an area of the country that is known to experience weather phenomenon such as hurricanes, tornadoes, or winter snowstorms, are you prepared? Read on for tips to help keep your family and home safe during harsh weather.
Create a Survival Kit
Although you hope to never use it, you should have a survival kit ready for harsh weather. This will help you get through power outages, water outages, and other common problems that result from major storms.
The kit should include the following items, but feel free to add more.
- Water: one gallon per person (a half gallon for pets) per day with a three-day supply for each.
- Food: non-perishable and easy-to-prepare items for three days.
- Flashlight and batteries.
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio.
- A deluxe family first-aid kit.
- Medications to last seven days.
- Multi-purpose tool.
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items.
- Copies of all your personal documents (passports, birth certificates, deed to home, insurance policies).
- Cell phone and chargers.
- Family emergency contact information.
- Extra cash.
- Emergency blankets.
- Map of the area.
- Pet food and medications for three days.
- Emergency whistle.
- Matches.
- Duct tape.
- Scissors.
In addition to your home survival kit, it is also wise to have a smaller kit in your vehicle. This can include the basics- water, blanks, flashlight, multi-purpose tool, etc.
Three Examples of Extreme Weather
Tornadoes
Tornadoes are more common in the United States than in any other country in the world. They mainly happen in spring and summer, typically in the late afternoon and early evening.
The massively strong winds that produce a tornado can wreak havoc on homes and property. Wind speeds can be over 200 mph and send cars and other large items flying through the air. The flying debris poses a risk to anyone out in the storm.
Preparing for a Tornado
If you live in an area prone to tornadoes, it’s best to be prepared before the season starts.
- Know your area and when you are at the greatest risk for a tornado.
- Be aware of the signs of an oncoming tornado.
- A rotating, funnel-shaped cloud.
- An approaching cloud carrying a lot of debris.
- A thunderous roaring sound like a freight train.
- Check with your community to sign up for their emergency alert system and download the app in advance.
- Pay attention to weather reports as the season approaches.
- Have a safety plan in place and practice it with your family.
- Decide where the safest place will be in your house and plan to go there, such as a basement and away from any windows.
- Build a safe room in your home according to the proper standards.
- Make sure to have a plan in place for your pets. Decide who will be responsible for them in advance.
- In the event of a tornado, go to your safe location immediately.
- Pay attention to your community’s emergency alerting systems to stay informed.
- Protect yourself from flying debris by shielding your body with materials such as furniture and blankets.
Hurricanes
If you live anywhere off the Southeast and mid-Atlantic coasts or the Atlantic Basin, you have likely experienced a hurricane. But suppose you just moved there. Do you know what to do in the event of a hurricane?
Hurricane season generally runs from June 1 to November 30. This includes tropical storms, which can be just as damaging and deadly.
Hurricanes are a type of tropical cyclone that have sustained winds of 74 mph or higher. You can sometimes tell if a hurricane is coming if you see a rotating system of clouds and thunderstorms rotating counterclockwise. If it’s a tropical storm, sustained winds will be between 39 to 73 mph. If it’s a major hurricane, the sustained winds could be 111 mph or greater.
If you live in an area that experiences a lot of hurricanes, you could possibly experience damage from the storm surge and storm tide as water rises, flooding from heavy rainfall and inland flooding, high winds, rip currents, and tornadoes.
Depending upon how severe the hurricane is, you will likely experience one or more of the following:
- Roof damage.
- Fallen or uprooted trees.
- Flooding.
- Power outages.
- Environmental damage from flying debris.
- Structural damage to your home.
- Loss of clean water.
Preparing for a Hurricane
Here are some steps you can take to secure your home.
- Replace any gravel or rock landscaping with a fire-resistant material that is lighter in weight and can’t do as much damage.
- Trim all weak branches from your trees.
- Have hurricane shutters professionally installed to protect your windows. If you can’t afford that, nail plywood panels all over the outside of your window frames as the storm approaches.
- Make sure that all of your exterior doors are hurricane-proof, have at least three hinges, and have a deadbolt lock at least one inch long.
- Make sure your sliding-glass doors are made of tempered glass and covered with plywood.
- Ensure you have garage doors and tracks that are approved for wind pressure and impact protection. If you don’t have approved garage doors, there is the potential for strong winds to blow the doors in or out, and the internal pressure that builds up could cause the roof and supporting walls to blow out.
- Secure all outside furniture, boats, and trailers, and bring all patio furniture and garbage cans inside.
- Install carbon monoxide detectors in central locations on every level of your home.
Winter Snowstorms
For those living in the north, a winter snowstorm can range from inconvenient to deadly! The freezing temperatures combined with snow, ice, and blizzard conditions can cause frostbite, hypothermia, or worse.
The risks to your home are also hazardous. The weight of heavy snow can knock down trees and power lines, causing roofs to collapse or partially cave.
Pipes can freeze, causing them to burst, leading to thousands of dollars in damage from flooding.
There is also a risk of fires or carbon monoxide poisoning when generators are misused. So, what should you do to be prepared?
Preparing for a Winter Storm
Follow a few steps to prepare for snowstorms and icestorms.
- Insulate the water lines that run along the exterior walls of your home so your water supply doesn’t freeze. If temperatures get below freezing, let your faucet drip just a little to keep the water moving.
- Caulk and weather-strip your doors and windows to seal all air leaks.
- Insulate your walls and attic.
- Install storm or thermal-pane windows. If you cannot do that, you can cover the inside of your windows with plastic.
- Make sure to repair any roof leaks.
- Trim tree branches that could fall on your home.
- Make sure your gutters and storm drains are clear of debris.
- Make sure to have your chimney inspected every year.
- Make sure all fuel-burning equipment, such as generators, are placed outside, away from your home.
- Install carbon monoxide alarms in central locations on every level of your home.
These are just a few things you can do to help keep your family and your home as safe as possible the next time extreme weather hits your community. Staying alert and prepared can go a long way!
About the Author: Alexandra Christensen is a freelance writer and single mom of three adopted kids with unique abilities. She is a novice homeowner and spends a lot of time on DIY sites looking for ways to make home improvements herself and save some money. When not freelancing, she can be found at https://medium.com/@alexandra_creates.
