I firmly believe in being prepared for natural disasters and unforseen challenges. I have lived through too many to laugh away the reality that storms hit, and we are often unprepared. Prepare your home for natural disasters with a few simple guidelines. I lived through the effects of Hurricane Helene and have a 3-post series to share what I learned and all the things that helped us weather the storm.

Whether we like to admit it – or not-, natural disasters can happen without a warning and we consider ourselves lucky when we get a few days’ notice. But sometimes, you don’t have that privilege. In emergencies, you can’t think or act completely rationally, let alone pack appropriately or check if you have supplies.

I’ve done some research and I can confidently say I know how to prepare my home for a natural disaster. That doesn’t mean I can make it completely resistant to all kinds of disasters, but I can make my (and your) life easier and safer with the right approach. This is Part 3 in my 5-part Natural Disaster Prep: Storm Essentials series.

Prepping for Storms as a Family

Reinforcing Your Home

The tips I’m about to share are general, but keep in mind that each home needs a tweak or two, depending on where you live. North Carolina is prone to hurricanes, so you’ll need reinforced windows and doors because of the high winds. The good news is, you can get a professional to help you out. You can be sure they’re up to date on all new technologies thanks to continuing education for general contractors in North Carolina.

If you’re in the Midwest, your home would do better if you made some upgrades to make it more resistant to floods. Follow my advice, but make adjustments where you need to, depending on the area you live in. What works for me doesn’t necessarily work for you if your area is plagued by other natural disasters.

Now, let’s get into the tips.

Inspections and Upgrades

Keep an eye on how your house is doing. I always make sure to check my roof for damaged shingles, loose materials, or cracks. Reinforcing windows is number 2 on my list of priorities. You can use storm shutters, or get windows with shatter- resistant glass.

People overlook doors a lot. Reinforce your doors with heavy-duty hinges and deadbolts so they can’t just be torn off during storms. Once that’s done, seal all cracks around your windows, doors, and walls. That can prevent damage from the wind and water from coming into your home.

Flood Protection

If you’re in the Midwest or just somewhere with a lot of floods, then you need to keep your home safe from water damage. One of the most effective ways of doing that is to elevate utilities like HVAC systems, electrical panels, and large appliances above the floodplain. Even if the water rises, your critical systems will still stay functional.

Now, let’s move on to basements and crawl spaces. For those, you’ll want to install sump pumps so the water can be quickly removed. Your house will be at less risk for structural damage. Backflow valves are another handy upgrade. They prevent sewage from backing up
into your home during heavy rains.

There are also upgrades to do outside. Grade your property to slope away from your home. Incorporate rain gardens or trenches to help with the water flow. This way, you’ll protect your foundation and interior. We learned this through the rainfall we got with Hurricane Helene. Our home needed to be regraded to help the water flow away and reduce flooding in heavy rains.

Fireproofing and Earthquakes

The first thing to do is to replace your roofing material with something that’s resistant to fire. Metal, clay tiles, or asphalt shingles are all prime choices. They’re a lot better protection against embers, and those little suckers can travel for miles from a wildfire.

The second thing to do would be to clean vegetation, leaves, and other debris from the space around your home because the flames are less likely to reach your home if there’s not a bunch of leaves around it. I’d also advise you to keep at least a 30-foot radius around your house with non-flammable landscaping (gravel, stone, etc.) Read more about surviving the wildfires in California.

We experiences two earthquakes while living in San Diego and two during out time living in the California desert. It is very alarming when the house walls are wobbling like jello!

For earthquakes, it’s best to secure heavy furniture and appliances to walls. You can use brackets or straps for this. This will reduce the chance of anyone getting injured. It will also keep escape routes clear.

Flexible gas lines are another important upgrade. They can handle movement, which means they’re less likely to rupture. Ruptures can cause fires.

I wish I was able to tell you how to keep your home 100% safe from any damage during natural disasters, but you can prep for natural disasters with common sense and more comfort.

All the upgrades I’ve suggested aren’t too complicated to do. They’ll make your home a lot safer and give you some peace of mind.

Stay tuned for the rest of my storm prep essentials series. Part 1: Quick Prep List to Prepare for Emergencies and Part 2: Preparing for Wildfires and other Natural Disasters.