How to Be Prepared if Disaster Strikes
Tim King, President
North Coast Building Industry Association – NCBIA – www.ncbia.com
Severe weather that damages homes and displaces residents can happen at any time. Planning before disaster strikes helps people stay safe and limit property damage. Don’t wait until the forecast calls for severe weather because you may not have enough time to prepare.
Each September, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognizes National Preparedness Month to encourage and remind Americans to be prepared for disasters or emergencies in their homes, businesses, and community. Here are several tips to help you and your family plan for emergencies.
- Know the Type of Risk in Your Area. Most communities face specific types of hazards. It is essential to learn the risks specific to your home and how to assess them if you are away from home. Also, states and localities have emergency alert systems to notify residents should dangerous weather start to approach their area. A good practice would be to check your home before storms to assure the roof, gutters, sump, drainage, siding, etc. are in good condition and then post storm check for damages. Visit ready.gov/alerts to learn more about the types of notifications available.
- Check Your Homeowners Insurance Policy. You must review your insurance policies to make sure you are covered for losses incurred as a result of a natural disaster or brutal storm. Damage caused by flooding, earthquakes and hurricanes is generally not covered by your regular homeowner’s policy but can be purchased separately.
- Create a Family Emergency Plan. When harsh weather hits, you should have a plan to stay connected with your family or loved ones. Ready.gov recommends putting a communication plan together with your family to know how to contact one another and reconnect if separated. Experts suggest choosing a family meeting place that is familiar and easy to find.
- Assemble a Disaster Kit. An emergency supply kit will help you and your family with natural disasters. You may lose power or need to evacuate your area, so it is vital to have essential items on hand. Your kit should contain basic items such as water, food, a flashlight, a first aid kit, and a whistle to signal for help. It would be best to consider what unique items you may need for your family, such as supplies for seniors or pets. For additional ideas on creating an emergency supply kit, visit ready.gov.
Taking these steps can help keep you and your family safe. National Preparedness Month is a time to ensure you prepare for the unexpected. You can read more at ready.gov/september. For more disaster resiliency tips for you and your home, contact the NCBIA.
For more information on the benefits of new homes, contact the NCBIA. We are your local not-for-profit trade association representing member companies involved in all aspects of home building, remodeling, and other aspects of services available to help you in the future as well as more information on the above topic. So, you can see it is for your protection that you use a NCBIA member. If you are unsure that your contractor is a member of the NCBIA or you are looking for a list of NCBIA members, you can visit our website at www.ncbia.com – go to Members and then Member Search, or call 440-934-1090. We also have a job posting board (under the industry tab).
Visit our 24/7 Virtual Parade of Homes!!! Allows you to look at some of our builders’ new homes and communities on your mobile device or computer at your leisure (including our remodelers) We know time is our greatest asset and via our NCBIA Virtual Parade of Homes, we save you time looking for a new home or a community that fits your lifestyle. The Virtual Parade of Homes is open online 24/7. Many of the homes featured in our Virtual Parade host regular open house hours for those consumers who are looking to tour the actual homes. You can click through to builder websites to see what they have to offer.
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