How to prepare yourself and your home for stormy weather

How to prepare yourself and your home for stormy weather

The arrival this week of Storm Darragh has proven that stormy weather can be unpredictable and often comes with a range of hazards, from heavy rain and strong winds to power outages and flooding. Being prepared can help you protect your home, ensure your safety and minimise damage. Here’s a useful and comprehensive guide to help you and your home weather the storm.

1. Stay informed

  • Monitor weather forecasts Stay updated with local weather reports and alerts. Use reliable sources such as the Met Office, local news channels and weather apps.
  • Sign up for alerts Register for emergency notifications in your area. These can be sent via text, email or through dedicated apps.
  • Plan an evacuation route If you live in an area prone to severe stormy weather, know the evacuation routes and have a plan in place. Practice the route with your family.

2. Secure your home

  • Inspect your roof Check for loose or damaged shingles and repair them. Ensure that gutters and downpipes are clear and functioning properly.
  • Trim trees and shrubs Remove dead or weak branches that could fall during strong winds. Trim trees to prevent them from damaging your property.
  • Secure outdoor items Bring in or secure outdoor furniture, decorations and other loose items that could become projectiles in high winds.
  • Reinforce windows and doors Install storm shutters or use plywood to cover windows. Ensure that doors, especially garage doors, are securely closed and locked.
  • Check the drainage system Ensure that your home’s drainage system is clear and functioning to prevent flooding.

3. Prepare an emergency kit

  • Essential supplies Include items like water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, first aid kits and medications.
  • Important documents Gather and store important documents such as insurance policies, identification and medical records in a waterproof container.
  • Communication devices Have a charged mobile phone, a portable charger and a battery-powered radio.
  • Warm clothing and blankets In case of power outages, keep warm clothing and blankets readily available.

4. Protect your home’s interior

  • Turn off utilities If advised by local authorities, turn off gas, water and electricity to prevent accidents.
  • Unplug electronics Unplug sensitive electronic devices to protect them from power surges.
  • Secure furniture Move heavy furniture away from windows to prevent damage from broken glass.
  • Waterproof valuables Place important belongings in plastic bags or containers to protect them from water damage.

5. Prepare Your Family

  • Communicate your plan Make sure all family members know the emergency plan, including where to go, what to do and who to contact.
  • Special needs Consider the needs of pets, elderly family members and those with disabilities. Ensure they have the necessary supplies and assistance.
  • Emergency contacts Compile a list of emergency contacts, including family, friends, neighbours and local emergency services.

6. During the storm

  • Stay indoors Avoid going outside during the storm. If you must go outside, wear appropriate protective clothing and be cautious of downed power lines and debris.
  • Stay informed Continue to monitor weather updates and follow any instructions from local authorities.
  • Use battery-powered devices If there’s a power outage, use battery-powered devices to stay informed and avoid carbon monoxide poisoning from generators.
  • Stay calm Keep a calm and reassuring demeanour to help manage stress and anxiety, especially for children and pets.

7. After the storm

  • Assess damage Once it is safe, carefully assess your home and property for any damage. Take photos for insurance claims.
  • Check utilities Inspect your gas, water and electrical systems for leaks or damage. If you detect any issues, contact the appropriate utility company.
  • Clean up Remove debris and fallen branches from your property. Be cautious of sharp objects and slippery surfaces.
  • Seek assistance: If you need help, contact local authorities or disaster relief organisations. They can provide resources and support.

8. Long-term preparedness

  • Regular maintenance Conduct regular maintenance on your home to ensure it is in good condition before the storm season.
  • Insurance review Review your insurance policy to ensure it covers storm damage. Understand your coverage and deductibles.
  • Emergency drills Practice emergency drills with your family to ensure everyone knows what to do when a storm hits.
  • Financial preparedness Set aside an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses related to storm damage and recovery.

Conclusion

Preparing for stormy weather is a crucial step in ensuring the safety and well-being of you and your family. By staying informed, securing your home and having an emergency plan in place, you can reduce the risks and manage the aftermath more effectively. Remember, safety comes first, and a little preparation can go a long way in protecting your home and loved ones.

How to keep your home safe

How to keep your home safe

In the UK, the main risks faced by households include fires and floods.

While we shouldn’t expect the same sort of tropical storms faced across other continents; for instance, Hurricane Nicole in Florida, it’s still important to take steps to stay safe. In the following guide, we’ve outlined some of the ways you can protect your family against unforeseen emergencies.

Know the risks

If you live in an area that you know is prone to flooding, you should be prepared regardless of the season. Store flood defences and sandbags in an easily accessible place in your house or garage, and make sure you check the weather forecast during periods of heavy rain.

Keep an emergency kit

We can never predict disasters, so it’s sensible to keep emergency supplies in your home – just in case. Depending on where you live, an emergency kit might include:

  • Basic first aid supplies and medicines
  • Water (one gallon per day per person)
  • Blankets and warm clothing
  • Head-torch, torches, lanterns and candles
  • Matches and a gas or charcoal stove
  • Tinned or other long-life foodstuffs
  • Solar powered chargers for your electronic devices

Clear exit routes

Ensure that everyone living in the property understands where the fire exit is, especially if you’re living in a flat. Always keep the entrance clear, and check that door closers are working properly.

To keep heated areas properly closed off, it might be worth choosing door closers like these ones from RS. Quality ironmongery is crucial when it comes to fire safety: if your doors can’t close properly, you won’t be safe from heat, smoke and flames.

Get covered

Insurance will prove invaluable in the aftermath of an emergency at home.

It’s imperative to make sure you know what’s covered and what’s not before deciding on your priorities. Choosing the right type of home insurance might initially feel complicated, but it’s usually split into two types:

Buildings insurance

Buildings insurance covers the original structure of your home, plus any permanent fittings and fixtures. These might include kitchen units and complete bathroom suites.

Contents insurance

This type of home insurance covers the cost of replacing or repairing any lost, damaged or stolen personal possessions in your home.

Install smoke alarms

Unfortunately, serious house fires are quite common. However, you’ll be approximately eight times less likely to die in a fire if you have a fully working smoke alarm in your home. When choosing smoke alarms, you should:

  • Fit at least one on each level or floor of your home
  • Look out for the British Standard Kitemark symbol
  • Buy ten-year sealed battery smoke alarms, if possible

After installing smoke alarms in your home, ensure you test them at least monthly. Furthermore, if any are one-year battery operated, aim to change it every year. Only remove the battery when it needs replacing.

Protect important documents

Lastly, you should always keep your important documents safe. Whether you choose a large lockable safe in your basement or a smaller fireproof box, you must keep your most crucial paperwork – such as passports, birth certificates, house deeds etc – protected against fires, floods and theft.

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Putting practical survival preparations in place

Putting practical survival preparations in place | H is for Home

In the modern world, we rarely think about our survival from day to day. It’s uncommon for us to be lost in the jungle, or find ourselves in true life-or-death scenarios from day to day. We don’t have to hunt for our food or graze for berries, aside from a cold spell now and then we rarely have to contend with the temperature, and unless you live in an area known for dramatic weather shifts or other unfortunate precedents, most of us will never encounter a natural disaster.

In other words, compared to those that lived in history, most of us have it pretty easy in first world societies. Even so, putting practical survival preparations in place can be a worthwhile consideration. Of course, nothing is likely to happen, but maybe you want to ensure that IF something happens, you have the ability to protect yourself. You may have seen one too many disaster movies, or you simply wish to take back control of your potential. The thing is, you needn’t have to justify yourself in taking an interest here, no matter if you’re a fully committed ‘doomsday prepper’ or you wish you had a little more utility just in case something goes wrong.

Let’s cater to this latter mindset. Consider our blackout advice here, and also this following set of survival ideals:

Storage facility with '3' on the door

Simple storage

It can be quite beneficial to have self storage options available to you. You might decide to bring camping gear here, a range of tools, and sometimes even documents you wish to keep private from your household. Valuables you wish to keep and lack attic or basement space for can also be kept for long periods of time here, especially considering the low cost required for keeping the space, and the confidentiality with which it’s treated.

It can also be worthwhile to keep your collectable, valuable items here. You never know when you might need to sell them when trying to raise emergency cash. For example, let’s say you’ve been locked out of your property due to familial tensions. It might be that having some items of value in your self-storage can help you gain the funding needed to move on and set yourself up appropriately. A private storage solution can be more important than you know, even if it’s simply a place utilised to keep your weather emergency gear. Don’t localise everything in your home.

Pounds sterling in notes and coins

Hidden money

It sounds dramatic, but having a hidden £500 that no one else knows about can help you get out of a sticky situation. It might even save your life. Of course, there’s no reason to have a thick wad of cash under your blankets as if you’re some kind of entry-level criminal, but simply knowing where funding could remain for you if you are locked out of your accounts could be extremely useful. Remember, this isn’t preparing for what will happen, but what could happen. Too often we completely rely on our digital accounts, not realising that there are several systems in place that could disconnect us from our savings if the worst happened. With a small quantity of cash, you’ll know that you have some wriggle room if an issue does occur.

First aid box with various contentson display outside

Car survival kit

It can be important to keep a car survival kit at the ready. A simple set of tools, torch, rope, blankets, non-perishable food and distilled water could help you if unexpectedly trapped in your car. If it’s legal in your area, a flare gun might also help you signal attention if you desperately need it. It might sound overboard, but a little survival booklet can also help you plan for the future. A second, cheap mobile phone with a credited SIM card can also help you make contact if your regular smart phone runs out of juice. A first aid kit is always important and can be kept in the glove compartment. Also, ensure car maintenance tools & equipment are handy; jump leads, spare tyre, jack and spanners.

Person holding a key in the palm of their hand

Social support

Having somewhere to go if something happens can potentially help you out of a jam. This might be a sibling’s flat, or perhaps a long-standing friend’s place. Perhaps you’ve come to an arrangement where you’re afforded a spare key to your friend’s home allowing you to spend the night in a secure place if needed. Also, drawing up an action plan with your family can help you ensure that if something goes wrong, you can find each other quite easily. Simply knowing each other’s movements is an essential element here.

With these tips, you’re sure to put practical preparations in place, even though we hope you never have to consider them.

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The emergency supplies all home-owners need in case of a blackout

The emergency supplies all home-owners need in case of a blackout | H is for Home

Blackouts are where all the electricity in your home just dies. If you’re lucky, it’s caused by something simple like a blown fuse, in which case you can replace it in the fuse box and carry on as normal. But, sometimes, blackouts can last for hours on end due to a problem with a nearby electricity line or something else.

So, what happens when you’re stuck in your home with no electricity? Think about all the things you may be unable to do! Bearing that in mind, here are a few emergency supplies all home-owners should stash away just in case.

3 lit candles

Torches, candles, battery-powered lamps

You get the idea; anything that provides your home with light needs to be part of your emergency supplies. Thankfully, all smart phones come with torches, so you’ll have plenty of them. We think some battery-powered lamps are great for adding lots of light to your home, and candles work well too.

Woman cooking using a dutch oven over an open fire

A Dutch oven

This sounds strange, but a Dutch oven is one of the best cooking appliances because of how versatile it is. As you can see on the Stone Frying Pans website, they’re commonly used for cooking outdoors or bringing on camping trips. A Dutch oven is large enough to cook lots of different things in, so it’s ideal if you need to eat while there’s a blackout, and your cooker is electric. It can be placed over a fire in your fireplace, or you can also get a portable gas hot plate type thing to use as well. When you don’t have access to multiple hobs or your oven, then a Dutch oven is the next best thing.

One top tip is to stock your cupboards full of foods that are easy for you to cook in a Dutch oven and don’t perish. Tinned soups are perfect for this, as are things like baked beans, and basically any other tinned foods. They might not be the most delicious, but they’re easy to cook and will keep everyone’s stomachs happy!

Red portable petrol generator

Portable generator

A lot of country homes have backup generators that kick in when there’s a blackout. Obviously, most people don’t have enough space for a full-on generator, so the next idea is a smaller one. Portable generators are great for supplying your home with a bit of electricity. Our advice is to plug in things that need it the most – like your fridge/freezer. Think of all the food you’ll waste if your fridge and freezer are turned off for hours on end! If everyone’s phones run out of power, then you can plug them in as well to ensure you have a means of communicating with the outside world!

If you’re prone to power outages in your home, then it might be worth buying more than one portable generator. Think of them as an emergency investment in your home. It’s better to pay for them and have them than to not have them when you need them. Plus, you can always use them to help power gardening equipment instead of trying to stretch leads all the way inside your home.

Close up of a portable heater

Mini heater

In a lot of new or renovated homes, the heat supply is powered by electricity. So, when this goes out, you lose your central heating system. As such, get your hands on a mini heater or two that’s either battery-powered or can be hooked up to your portable generator. When the temperature drops, you ensure that everyone stays warm and safe. You can buy one mini heater or multiple ones, it all depends on how big your house is and how much money you’re willing to spend.

Woman carrying folded up woollen blankets

Thermal blankets

Again, this is to help combat the cold if your power goes out during a particularly cold period. Yes, your mini heaters will help, but they can’t heat up your entire home. You’d have to buy one for every room, and then it becomes a case of finding the space to store them when they’re not being used. Instead, you can combine heaters with thermal blankets. These will ensure everyone can wrap up warm if it’s freezing. Plus, this is one of those things that you can use even when the power is on.

Blackouts can be unpredictable, and you don’t want one to cause issues for your family and your home. If you get your hands on all of these supplies, then you’ll be perfectly prepared for anything. You’ve got a way of cooking food so no-one goes hungry, you have a power source to keep essential things up and running, and you have light and heat as well.

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