Step 4.a. Resilience for Homeowners
Taking a few steps now to make your home ready and resilient in the event of a disaster can make a big difference! There are some surprisingly simple things that can really count - like making sure heavy furniture like bookcases are anchored to a wall or those smoke detectors are working. Read on to learn what you can do to make your home safe and ready.
Your Impact
Action Steps & Tips
Introduction
Home is far more than just a place of shelter - it’s where family gathers, where we make memories, and where we feel safe and comfortable. Taking steps to prepare our home to be as resilient as possible in the event of a natural disaster makes sense and it’s a lot easier than you might think!
Some of these steps are easy and low cost or no cost, while others take more upfront resources and planning. However, they will likely pay off if a natural disaster hits your home. FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, estimates that investments in steps to protect against disasters return fourfold, meaning for every $1 you invest to protect your home, you could save $4 in damages!
Four main factors contribute to your home’s ability to withstand a natural disaster: (1) its location, (2) the severity of the event, (3) how well the home was built and has been maintained, and (4) what steps you have taken to strengthen and protect your home. We can’t control all of these - but the last step alone can have a huge impact!
As a homeowner, you can take three main steps to prepare your home:
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Learn about the risks in your region and on your property
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Take steps to address hazards in your home
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Put safety measures in place like installing equipment to detect hazards and insuring your home against disasters.
Completing these steps will give you the reassurance that whatever may happen, you and your home are prepared.
How to do this action:
Read through the steps below and complete, or plan to complete as many as you are able to do that apply to your home.
Make sure to also complete the main household actions - Find Risks & Resources, Make a Plan and Build Your Kit - to cover the basics of emergency preparedness.
1Step 1: Know your local risks
Knowing what natural disaster risks you face is a huge first step in protecting your home! These risks vary widely by geography - a family in a low-lying home on the coast will have different concerns and priorities than a family in the mountains in a wildfire-prone region. Risks also vary by home.
Action: Identify your local risks
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Know your local hazards for your region. Be familiar with the local Disaster-specific actions you identified in the Find Local Risks & Resources action. Read Step #3 - What to add to your household prep plans for each Disaster-specific action and add any additional recommended steps to your home preparedness list in Steps 2 & 3 below.
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Identify risks around your home. Your home’s risks will also vary depending on its particular location and local features. Think about what happens around your home during different weather events. Do you live close to trees that might fall during a storm? Do you live at low elevation? Any low elevation spot like a valley may be in a flood plain and at higher risk of flooding. A few tips on checking for risks:
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Trees showing signs of distress that might fall during a storm - contact a qualified arborist to inspect and assess any large trees near your home.
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Check to see if you are in a floodplain - check your flood risk at floodfactor.com
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Check to see if you are at risk for an avalanche or landslide. If you live at the base of a steep hillside or mountain, check with local emergency experts to assess your risk.
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Look for your proximity to the wildland urban interface, and your distance from a high fire threat zone.
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Know whether you live in an area that is likely to have frequent power outages or public safety power shutoffs (where the power is shut down during extreme weather).
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If you’re unsure about any features of your home or location, call a contractor with experience in local hazard mitigation for advice. Also, consider these hazards when you are deciding where to purchase a new home.
2Step 2: Identify and address structural & property hazards
“Structural hazards” are risks to your home that involve the building structure itself, like the roof, foundation, windows and chimneys. Prepping these parts of your home will make them safer and stronger during a disaster and strengthen the resilience of your home.
Action: Identify and assess structural hazards and make a plan for repairs
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Have a qualified contractor assess your home. The best way to identify potential structural hazards is to get a qualified contractor with expertise in natural disaster hazard mitigation to provide recommendations for your unique home. Below are some key questions you should ask (if you are planning to purchase a new home, these are also great questions to ask before you buy):
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Does your foundation need repair? Is your home securely anchored to the foundation?
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Does your roof need repair or reinforcing?
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Do your windows need shutters or other protective barriers?
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Do any outdoor features need strengthening, like porches, decks, carports and garage doors?
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Are chimneys or propane tanks secure or do they need to be strapped down?
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If you are in a floodplain:
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What is the Base Flood Elevation (level of floodwater expected in an extreme flood event) and where is that for our home? First floor, basement, etc.
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Do the utilities or other parts of the house need to be raised or floodproofed?
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If you have a Mobile home, does it need to be strapped to a slab?
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Decide which projects to do and make a plan. After receiving a report and estimates from the contractor, decide which projects to take on. Ask the contractor for advice on cost vs benefit to prioritize projects. Do projects as you are able! Most projects will improve the value of your home and save you money if a disaster occurs.
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If you are unable to afford weatherization or other energy-related home repairs, you may be eligible for help through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Find your state agency contact for more information on how to apply on this map.
3Step 3: Identify and address non-structural hazards
Non-structural hazards include anything that isn’t part of the building itself that might be at risk or could cause damage. This includes larger items like bookcases, TVs, and appliances, and also smaller or more movable items like framed pictures, dishware, and other breakables. No one wants their grandparents’ china plates crashing down in a storm! Also, doing regular maintenance like clearing gutters can save you a lot of money and hassle in the long run.
Action: Identify and address non-structural hazards:
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Check and make sure the following items are secured:
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Heating units: Bolt and brace water heaters and gas appliances to wall studs. Have a professional install flexible fittings to avoid gas or water leaks.
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Larger furniture: Anchor tall, top-heavy freestanding furniture like bookcases and china cabinets to wall studs to keep them from falling over.
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Cabinets: Install strong latches or bolts on cabinets and put large or heavy items like glass, china or bottled foods on bottom shelves, closest to the floor.
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Hanging items: Don’t hang anything heavy like pictures or mirrors near beds, couches or anywhere people sleep or sit.
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Lighting: anchor overhead lighting fixtures to joists.
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Trees: Clear all dead or dying trees, which will reduce the risk of damage from trees or limbs falling on your home during a storm.
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Maintain your home and property: do regular maintenance including:
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Clear gutters and drains every fall and during the storm season as needed
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Take measures to protect pipes from freezing
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Check for roof damage and water leaks and do repairs as needed to protect your roof and prevent water damage.
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In wildfire regions, create and maintain a 30-foot perimeter around your home that’s free of debris and any flammable material such as dead trees or brush.
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4Step 4: Install smoke, gas, and carbon monoxide alarms, and a fire extinguisher
Action: Install any missing alarms
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Smoke alarms - install on or near the ceilings in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area (like hallways), and in common spaces like living and family rooms.
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Carbon monoxide alarm - install a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home, ideally 5 feet high (since carbon monoxide is lighter than air, it rises, just like smoke).
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Some new detectors cover both smoke and carbon monoxide and last for 10-15 years. Check the label for what the detector includes.
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Natural gas detector - natural gas is different from carbon monoxide, and has different detectors. Like carbon monoxide, natural gas is lighter than air, so it rises. Place natural gas detectors 5 feet high on every level of your home, especially near sources of gas like furnaces, stoves, and water heaters.
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Extra batteries - make sure to have extra batteries for the alarms. The low battery alerts seem to go off at the most inconvenient times! Test your alarms at least twice a year, and replace the batteries once a year.
Action: Get a fire extinguisher: Just like smoke and CO alarms, a fire extinguisher is a must have for home safety. You can buy one online or at your local hardware store for $15-25. Make sure to purchase an ABC fire extinguisher - this means that it will work for the primary types of fires that could happen at home.
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It’s important to know how to use your fire extinguisher! Watch this short helpful video to learn how to operate a fire extinguisher.
5Step 5: Make sure your home is properly insured
In most locations, homeowner insurance policies cover damages from things like fire, hurricanes, and lightning, but not necessarily damage caused by earthquakes, flooding or landslides.
Action: Check your coverage, add insurance as needed and document:
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Check your coverage: Contact your home insurance agent to verify what is covered and ask about what additional policies you may need. It’s completely normal to have questions on your policy, so don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions!
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Check for affordable insurance for high risk areas: home insurance is more expensive the higher the risk, so if you live in an area with high risk for wildfires or hurricanes, homeowners insurance for these disasters will likely be more expensive. If you have trouble finding affordable insurance, investigate your state’s Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan, which is a state-mandated, often privately-subsidized insurance program for high-risk locations. Do an internet search for “FAIR plan insurance” + the name of your state to find a website with more information for your state program.
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Consider Flood Insurance if your home is at risk for flooding: most home insurance policies do not cover flooding, even if the flood was caused by a natural disaster that is covered by your plan, like a hurricane or tornado. Talk to your insurance agent about what if anything related to flood damage is covered, and consider adding flood insurance if needed for your area.
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has set up a program to supply flood insurance for people who can’t get or afford flood insurance through a private agency, called the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Visit floodsmart.gov to find companies offering flood insurance in your state.
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Document your stuff! Finally, document all your valuable possessions with photos and receipts if you have them so you can be compensated if they are damaged - this will give you financial security and peace of mind. A quick video walkthrough of your home is an easy way to document less valuable items for insurance purposes. It is also recommended to back-up your documentation on a flash drive or the cloud (See Step #2 of the Make a Kit action to learn more). Remember to check at least once a year to add anything new to your documentation.
Money-saving tip! You may qualify for insurance discounts if you make improvements to your home, such as installing smoke detectors, sprinklers, or specific-disaster improvements like wind shutters or reinforced roofing. Call your insurance agent to learn more!