Natural disasters are, as their name suggests, natural. Unfortunately, that natural also means unavoidable, and you must take proper precautions. Without giving your home the protection it needs, these natural disasters will take you for everything you’ve got. There are some effective ways to protect your home from a natural disaster, and while you’re not immune to the effects of these disasters, you’ll be better off than if you had taken little to no protective measures.
Use Sandbags
Natural disasters like hurricanes and floods often bring water to your area. Without the right precautions, that water can quickly seep into your home. Instead of standing back nonplussed and staring at the water coming into your home, consider investing in sandbags that can direct the water away. You can direct water away by placing enough sandbags around doors or other flood-prone areas of your home. With stacks of sandbags, the water can stay out of your home. While that water may still pool and damage your yard, a damaged yard is better than a flooded home.
Stock Up on Emergency Supplies
One of the first things you can do to protect yourself from a natural disaster is to gather all the emergency supplies you need. Emergency supplies will help you protect yourself and your home from the effects of these disasters. One of the best things you can get is a large supply of fresh, potable water. A big tank like this will serve you throughout the year and help you in these emergencies. However, bad weather and the damage caused by it could contaminate your potable water. To avoid that damage, you should invest in a tank liner to keep your potable water safe.
In addition to water, you’ll also need other essential items like food, batteries, and potentially even a generator. A generator could help you keep the lights and refrigerators running, but they also have other purposes. With a generator, you can power a shop vacuum that would flush out any water that’s come into your home during the disaster.
Invest in Fire-Retardant Plants
Not all natural disasters bring water and flooding—one of the worst natural disasters you can face is a wildfire. If there’s a fire in your area, you shouldn’t stay at your home, but you can take some early measures to ensure the fires don’t reach you. Plants and trees serve as fuel for the spread of these fires, but some varieties of plants are much less flammable, such as ice plants, Rockrose, and maple or cherry trees. Additionally, maintain your yard and keep out overgrown or dead grass and branches, as these will help fires spread easier.
You can protect your home from a natural disaster, but it won’t be easy. These natural disasters are unpredictable and incredibly destructive, and you won’t escape damage in all its forms. Instead, there will still be some damage that makes its way through the cracks of your protection. But even with this damage, it’s important to remember what no protection would look like for your home.