No matter where you live, multiple types of natural disasters could hit your home. Part of being a homeowner is preparing for these worst-case scenarios, such as wildfires, hurricanes, tornados, and flash floods. Here are three tips to help you in protecting your home from worst-case scenarios.
Be Financially Prepared for Repair Costs
Although you may be able to reduce damage to your home with proper preparedness, there will be repair costs involved in many cases. You don’t want to end up taking out a loan or racking up a huge credit card bill because of a natural disaster.
Homeowner’s insurance is a must, and you should make sure that it covers all the potential disasters that could occur. You may need to get separate policies for natural disasters if your homeowner’s insurance is lacking anywhere. You also need an emergency fund. Even with insurance, you could still have out-of-pocket costs, and it’s always good to have money saved for these types of situations.
Make Disaster-Specific Preparations Depending on Your Home’s Location
The natural disasters that are most likely to strike at your home will depend on its location. It’s best to prepare your home for the disasters that are most likely to occur.
For example, on the East Coast, there’s always the potential for a hurricane. You can prepare your home for one by installing a strong garage door, hurricane shutters, and hurricane straps. Although wildfires can occur anywhere, they’re most common in dry climates. If you live in one, it’s important to keep dead foliage and trees at least 10 yards from your home. Consider the threats your home could face and set up preliminary protective methods.
Get Help Right Away When a Disaster Strikes
When your home has sustained damage, the last thing you want to do is wait around to get it repaired, especially since many types of damage can get worse the more you wait. For example, if water damage occurs at your home, getting it taken care of within those first 24 to 48 hours are crucial to prevent mold.
If you happen to be in the middle of a fire, flood, or other emergency, there are 24/7 emergency response services available that can come to your home whenever you need them. While they can’t do what the fire department does, they can help mitigate some of the damage and help you more immediately get a handle on the situation once the initial threat is neutralized. It’s a good idea to have the number for one ready just in case.
Nobody wants their home to fall prey to any disaster, but sometimes that’s the way it goes. Whether it’s a natural calamity or a freak accident, it’s important to make sure you have your bases covered. This means, planning, preparing, and knowing how to respond. It may not prevent a disaster, but it can surely help you in protecting your home.