Making Your Home A Shelter…Gas prices…Preparedness Binders
Just a quick note before we begin securing our home against disaster. Have you been aware of what is happening with gas prices? The price of gas is now at the highest point ever, this time of the year. Experts, who were correct the past few years, now expect the price of gas to go up to $5.00 per gallon by summer. Now is the time to be looking at what we are doing to get ready for another big hit to the budget. Food is going up. Do you have your food storage so by summer you are eating out of your General Store and garden and only shopping when items are on sale? Have you seriously cut everything you can out of your budget now and putting aside what you are saving? Make sacrifices now and place that money into an account so your Christmas next year can be a cash one. Have you taken a good look at the possibility of a Stay at Home vacation?
Two years ago I highlighted those who had stared at home businesses to help you with ideas for things you might be able to do to make a little extra income. I would love to do the same again this year. If any of you or your friends have started businesses at home and would like to share what you have done, to help motivate others, please let me know. Send me a note at: Carolyn@TotallyReady.com.
By becoming more aware of conditions around us, we acquire a giant advantage by simply acting on common sense observations. When we look at our home and neighborhood, do we really “see” what an outsider might see in their first impression? Do we live in a high fire risk area? Have there been floods, earthquakes, or hurricanes where we live? Is the land around our house stable, or subject to landslides? Have there been natural or man-made disasters in our town? What is the history of our home area? What would the old-timers tell us about past emergencies in our town?
To protect the safety of our homes and families, there are a few things we can do now to prepare our house and property for trouble tomorrow:
Clear the area: Consult a landscape expert or research on the web to determine how fire resistant the plantings are near your home. If they are highly flammable, remove them and add more “fire friendly” planting. Clean brush, dead trees and foliage from around your home for at least thirty feet. Make sure wood piles are not stacked next to your home.
Clean the garage: Discard any old chemicals, oily rags, stacks of newspaper or any other flammable items stored in the garage that are not being used. Clearing room in the garage now will ensure you will be able to move outdoor items such as picnic tables and toys inside your garage quickly as a storm or flood approaches. Any items left outside can act as missiles during a major storm, smashing through windows and walls.
Fire Extinguishers: Purchase a few good fire extinguishers if you don’t already have them. If you have them check them – make sure they are still charged. Make sure every member of the family knows how to use one.
Fire/smoke/carbon monoxide detectors: If you don’t have them, now is the time to get them. We are all candidates for a house fire. If you have detectors, check them every six months to make sure they are working properly.
Escape: Make sure there are two escape routes from each room in your home. If you have a second story, invest in at least one fire escape ladder. A ladder for each second floor bedroom is an even better idea.
Brace water heaters: Check the building codes in your area and strap water heaters accordingly. There may not have been a code in place when your home was built, and following the current code is a smart thing to do.
Elevate: Build a raised platform for your furnace and water heater, and raise your electrical panel if they are in areas that may be flooded.
Valve wrench: Place a gas shut off valve wrench on a hook next to the valve and teach your family how to use it. In an emergency, you may not have time to search for a wrench. If you are not at home, your family or neighbor may not know where to search for a wrench.
Anchor foundations: If you live in an older home or are unsure if your foundation is well anchored you should have your home inspected and correct any problem that may exist.
Strengthen walls: Do you remember the scene in the movie Mr. Blanding Builds his Dream House when Mr. Blanding (Cary Grant) is asked if he wants lintels between the lally columns? He has no idea what they are talking about, but seeing dollar signs he answers “no”. Immediately the builder yells to take out the lintels and 2x4s start falling from above. Make sure your home structure is properly built and reinforced to withstand the pressures of a storm or earthquake. When you build, use an architect or engineer, and avoid shortcuts.
Strengthen foundation: Check your foundation. Is it cracking? Is your home still level in all directions? Do some of your floors sag, just a little? It is time to have your foundation inspected. Some fixes are expensive, but will save you money in the long run since neglected repairs can lead to more costly consequences.
Chimney Inspection: How often do we have our chimneys cleaned and inspected? This one task can greatly reduce the risk of a home fire (ask your neighbor the fireman about chimney fires). It can also help save your home in an earthquake, wind storm or hurricane. Additionally, if you should ever have to heat your home using your fireplace, you will be grateful it is working properly. What an awful time to discover there is a problem.
Now, it's time to make a list of any of these items that need to be addressed in your home. Remember we are making a list of the things we can't afford, or don't have the time to do now.
Now, one more thing, If you haven't already done so, now is the time to make a preparedness binder. How do you do this? I guess that is really up to you. There are many articles and tips that we have published that apply to several categories. As an example, an article on preparing for a winter power outage could be filed under, power outage, or winter storms. A flooding article could be filed under floods or hurricanes, since those normally produce floods. Create sections for your binder that are specific to the area in which you live. Don't forget a food storage section and a recipe section too! Now, copy posts and your copy of the Totally Ready Newsletter and divide them into the categories you have created. If you have the first year of newsletter those alone will be 140 pages in your binder. There is so much information on the blog and in the newsletters. Get them organized now. During a disaster the power will almost surely be out and you will not be able to look up helpful tips! Do it today.
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Good list. I might also consider actions that can help prevent burglaries and home invasions such as motion detection exterior lights, an alarm system, and even (especially) your daily actions and habits (e.g., locking deadbolts even while at home, closing and latching ground floor windows even while home, etc).
That is only half the list so there is more to come. Thanks for your suggestions. Home invasions are on the increase so protecting your home is more important than ever. If you have not listened to my radio shows on the topic please take some time to listen.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2011/10/12/ready-or-not-with-carolyn-nicolaysen
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2011/11/02/ready-or-not-with-carolyn-nicolaysen
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2011/11/09/ready-or-not-with-carolyn-nicolaysen
Very good tips! Thank you. : )