No one wants to think that a disaster will actually strike their home, but it is important to be prepared. Creating a safe home that is ready for anything isn’t hard to do or very expensive. It is simply a matter of having the right items on hand and keeping up on preventative measures.

Routine Care

There are routine procedures that need to be followed in order to keep your home safe and avoid disaster. Clean your gutters once all the leaves have fallen in order to keep the water flowing when it rains. This can prevent ice and moisture from backing up and damaging your roof. Have your chimney swept at least once each year, and test the smoke alarms monthly. The batteries in these alarms should be replaced annually.

Avoid Tragedy

Follow a few simple tips to avoid having a house fire. Keep all grills and fire pits a minimum of 10 feet away from the house. Inspect and clean out your woodstove pipes just as you would the chimney. Avoid hiding electrical cords under rugs, and have a professional replace light switches that feel hot the touch. Always have a working fire extinguisher nearby.

Emergency Kit

Homeowners also need to keep certain items on hand for when a disaster does strike. Natural disasters are unavoidable, but you can be prepared. Keep non-perishable foods and a two week supply of water on hand for the entire family. Weather radios with built in flashlights can be helpful when trying to find out information while you are cut off from the TV and internet. Basic toiletries, a first aid kit, and a multipurpose tool are also valuable items to have on hand.

A Functioning Home

For those living in the area of Houston standby generators can keep your home functioning during many of the most common disasters that can cause a power outage. It is important to have your generator routinely checked and maintained so that it is ready when needed. Professionals from the retailer you bought it from, as well as online providers such as Grasten Power Technologies, can help you with this.

Following these simply tips can help you successfully making it through a disaster as well as avoid tragedy. Once each of these suggestions is put in place, your home will be much safer for you and your family.