We don’t like to think about the worst-case scenario because it can easily play into a whole lot of fear-mongering. But for the sake of our home and our loved ones, the steps to prepare your home for any emergency situations is something that we need to learn, and then, if the situation ever arises, rather than panic, we are ready to roll. When it comes to your home, you’ve got to be ready for almost anything. So, what are the key steps that you can take?
Understanding the Common Culprits
What can actually happen to your home based on where you are? If you are in an area that could be prone to flooding, you need to give your home the necessary reinforcements, which could involve incorporating flood-resistant materials like a flood-resistant front door and raising electrical sockets.
However, if you are somewhere that’s not seen a flood in 100 years, it’s always worth checking at the back of your mind if something like this might occur. It’s more likely that you’ll experience power outages, and one great way to be ready for any power outage is to have a backup supply of electricity.
You could have a generator but also think about utilizing solar power that goes to a battery for storage, and a solar battery upgrade is an easy fix. When you understand what actually can happen, it ensures you have a better mindset to problem solve.
Develop Emergency Plans
Much like in the workplace when people test the fire alarms and there are health officers that know exactly what to do because they’ve trained, you should also operate with the same mindset. You should have a household emergency plan that includes procedures for all of the potential problems.
Do you know how to turn off the gas? Do you know how to switch off the electricity or water supplies? If you don’t, you’d better start learning these things but also look at what would happen in the worst-case scenarios. If you have a fire, what’s your most logical escape route?
Also, think about packing the essential items like your medication. The first aid kit is one of those essential components in an emergency but also look at what essential supplies you have got now to show you are ready for this type of situation. Something like canned food is a very good example if you need to hunker down at home for a long time and you’re not able to get to the store.
Arguably, most people have a better understanding of how to be more self-sufficient at home because of the pandemic, but if you struggled for numerous reasons, take the time to learn from what you could have done better to ensure you stayed safe at home.
Create a Proper Action Plan
Outlining what each person in the family should do in an emergency is an excellent option because these crisis situations can occur despite them being rare but if you’ve got young kids and there’s no access to phones for whatever reason, you should create a plan that outlines what every family member should do in an emergency, designate meeting places, write down important contacts, and also establish communication strategies.
Not discussing a plan with family members can result in confusion and stress during these types of emergencies which is why it’s always essential to drill in a proper plan for the sake of everybody’s peace of mind.
Develop an Emergency Fund
It’s very tough to keep finances afloat right now for many people, but saving a little bit every month will soon add up over time. Major family emergencies could be a once-in-a-lifetime event if at all rather than being complacent when you have an emergency fund set aside, this can cover a multitude of different emergencies.
For example, if you’ve been made redundant from your job this can keep everything ticking over nicely. Experts generally recommend having enough money in your emergency fund to cover between three and six months of living expenses such as healthcare, food, housing, and so forth. Saving smaller amounts regularly is the best approach rather than thinking you have to put a huge chunk aside each time.
Preparing your home for any emergency situation might seem like overkill but ensuring you can still relax as best as you can during a tough time, whether it’s redundancy or a natural disaster ensures that your home, your loved ones, and yourself are fighting fit and ready will, of course, make a massive difference.
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