Whether it’s earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, or fires, nearly all homes are at some risk of damage from a natural disaster. In this post, you will learn six steps you can take to protect your home and family from these unfortunate situations.
Obtain Homeowners’ Insurance
Homeowners insurance is essential for protecting your home from natural disasters. Having a comprehensive policy in place can help you avoid costly repairs and replacement expenses if something unexpected happens. It’s important to understand the different types of coverage available and what they cover so that you can make sure your home and belongings are adequately protected.
Having the right homeowner’s insurance policy in place before disaster strikes can mean the difference between having to pay out-of-pocket for damage or being able to file a claim with your insurer. Finding the right policy requires research to determine which type of coverage best meets your needs, as well as shopping around to find an insurer with competitive rates. Be sure to read all of the fine print so that you have a clear understanding of what is covered and excluded from your policy before making a purchase decision.
Basic policies may not cover certain damage caused by natural disasters, such as floods, fires, and earthquakes. It’s important to review your policy to make sure you are protected from potential natural disasters where you live. None of us like to spend extra money if we don’t have to, but the peace of mind of a good policy can be tremendously valuable. Speak with a local insurance agency to find out if you have sufficient coverage.
Install Solar and a battery backup
The most significant benefit of a battery backup is the ability to use the solar energy you capture at any time, even when the local power grid is down. Natural disasters can leave homes without power for days to weeks. Grid-tied systems will not have power when there is a local outage, while those with battery backups can continue to draw on any reserves they have.
A solar battery backup stores the excess energy produced by your solar panel system. When the power goes out, your backup battery can provide continuous power to critical appliances and rooms in your house. Certain solar battery backups can allow you to take your home completely off the grid. This means that your solar panel system can produce and store enough energy for your home throughout the year.
The cost of adding solar panels and a solar backup battery to your home has come down significantly in the past few years. Additionally, the federal government is offering a 30% tax credit for the cost of your system. Find out if your home qualifies by taking our brief survey here.
Use Flexible Connections on Gas and Water Lines
An earthquake’s tremors can rip the gas and water lines away from their connection points, which can cause serious injuries and property damage. Fortunately, this problem can be prevented by installing flexible connectors. If the connectors are flexible, they can shift and bend in place during an earthquake, so the gas and water lines remain intact.
We recommend consulting with a professional in your area to install flexible gas and water line connectors. An improperly installed connector has a much higher risk of leaking or breaking, leaving your home and family more vulnerable.
Install a Whole Home Generator
Natural disasters come in all shapes and sizes, not just rainfall and flooding. During a disaster, you may lose power, heat, and other conveniences, and they may not be available again for several days. A whole home generator can help you by providing the necessary electricity to your home. This is particularly important for the elderly, those with small children, and those who may have medical devices that need to be plugged in or who may have difficulty leaving their homes in the event of a disaster.
A whole-home generator is installed beside your home and is connected to a fuel source such as natural gas or propane. It activates automatically in the event of an outage and will keep your home supplied with power until help can arrive. Whole home generators installed by a professional are also safer for your family. Portable generators have a much higher risk of Co2 poisoning when used in or near your home.
Trim Large Trees
High winds can snap large branches off of untrimmed trees and turn them into dangerous projectiles. In dry climates, untrimmed trees can serve as fuel to the fire, helping it spread throughout your property until it makes its way to your home. Protect your property by trimming the trees year-round and removing dead branches as soon as you spot them.
Removing a tree can be a difficult and potentially dangerous job, especially if it’s close to your home. Contact a tree removal service if you feel there is a risk that a falling branch could harm your home or family. The cost of removing a tree is covered by most home insurance policies. You can also add the cost of removing a tree to your solar panel installation project if it shades part of the roof where solar panels will be placed.
Learn How to Turn Off Utilities
Turning off utilities is an important part of preparing for a natural disaster. Utilities such as electricity, water, and gas can cause significant damage if they are not properly shut down in advance of an emergency. Knowing how to turn these utilities off will help protect your home from the destruction that these elements can cause during a natural disaster.
If you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, or other disasters, it’s important to know exactly what steps to take before the storm hits. The first step is to find out which type of utility needs to be shut off in case of an emergency. In most cases, this includes turning off the power at the circuit breaker box and shutting down any gas lines leading into the house. Locate the shut-off valve or switch for each utility and ensure you have the proper tools nearby to complete the job.
You never know when the next natural disaster will happen. Prepare early by following these six steps to ensure your home and family are kept safe.
