Natural disasters like floods, fires, earthquakes, and tornadoes are common in certain areas. Regardless of where you live, FEMA advises creating a preparedness plan for your household to protect yourself and your home. While no way of doing things is perfect, there are steps you can take to make your Chicagoland home more resilient to disasters.
Know Thine Enemy
Understand the types of hazards in the Chicago area and create a safety plan tailored to them. Local government emergency management offices can provide guidance and information on local alerts and warning systems to subscribe to. Your first concern, of course, is your family’s safety. But your home and property could also profit from sensible safeguards you put in place, whether you decide to stay or go when disaster strikes.
Sun Tzu, a Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher once said, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” You are not helpless against these mighty forces. Once you know your enemy, you’ll better know what steps to take.
Defeat Your Enemy
Knowledge is power, so be a hero and use the following information effectively.
Fire Safety
- To prevent gas leaks from causing fires after natural disasters, learn to shut off your home’s natural gas with the help of your gas company. If you smell gas, open windows and leave immediately. Find and close shut-off valves completely to prevent water pollution from cracked pipes after disasters. Check for rust periodically. Wait for authorities to give the all-clear before reopening the valve.
- To prevent electrical fires, locate your circuit box and turn off individual circuits before shutting down the main one to avoid sparks. If you rely on life-saving equipment, consider getting a portable generator as a backup plan.
- Ensure you have fire and carbon dioxide detectors in your home. For protection against fast-moving fires, focus on creating defensible spaces and using fire-resistant construction materials. Consult your local Chicago area fire department for specific steps based on your home’s characteristics.
Tornado Safety
- According to FEMA, the Chicago Metro area has a tornado risk score of 99.97 out of 100. Protect your home by meeting or exceeding the Standard Building Code for high-wind areas. Secure windows and glass doors with impact-resistant glass. Ensure doors have three hinges and strong deadbolt locks. Strengthen garage doors. Consider an inspection for recommendations on reinforcing your home. Plan a shelter location for your family.
- To protect against tornadoes, focus on roof safety. Use sturdy materials, fix damaged sheathing, secure trusses/rafters to walls, seal joints with asphalt tape, and brace gable roof end walls and connections.
- Tornadoes and strong winds can cause trees to fall and damage your property. Regularly check for dead or weak trees and remove them. Prune tree branches annually and secure loose items in your yard. Consider using shredded bark instead of gravel for landscaping.
Earthquake Safety
Many parts of the U.S. are earthquake-prone. While the Chicago area isn’t likely to see one, a few smaller ones have occurred over the years. However, the U.S. Geological Survey states, “Earthquakes can occur in any location at any time.” So, protect your home by securing appliances and heavy furniture to walls, and installing latches on cabinets and drawers. Use closed screw-eyes for hanging paintings. Reinforce your home’s structure with steel plates and anchor bolts and fortify walls and chimneys.
Flood Safety
Make sure your home is protected from flooding by knowing its flood level. Keep electrical devices and appliances above this point. Secure items that could cause contamination if they float during a flood and install a back-flow valve to safeguard the sewage system.
When the Enemy Causes Damage
The information and tips provided in the article are designed to limit the amount of damage your property suffers. But sometimes your best efforts to be a protector aren’t enough to stop major damage from occurring. When it does, call the Chicagoland disaster restoration professionals at ServiceMaster By Simons. We make sure that any damage incurred is only temporary and will return your property to normal before you know it.