Due to the critical issue and state of the environment, natural disasters happen more often now than before. When you turn on the television to watch some news, you’ll find hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and wildfires occurring in different regions and nations worldwide. Not to mention that no one is exempted from the outburst of mother nature.

So, in preparation for worst-case scenarios, it’s essential to keep your home or your business protected at all times. Wherever you are geographically located, be aware of what kind of natural disaster your location is more prone to. 

With that in mind, read along and find out some ways to protect your property from any natural calamity:

1. Create A Strong Property Foundation 

Whether you’re building a home or a commercial building, it’s needless to say that the foundation of your structure should be well-stabilized. When the foundation is sturdy, it’ll be able to hold the building upright. High-quality construction materials and procedures are required to establish this. Although you will still need water and flooding restoration services offered by contractors, like Servproleesouthchathamcounties.com, when nature wreak havoc, you can still depend that your entire building won't vanish to pieces when you have a stable foundation. 

During your structure's construction, your foundation works with three prominent roles: 

• It’s responsible for holding the entire building and its load. 
• With a well-constructed foundation, your building would keep standing despite calamities, making occupants and residents safe inside. 
• When the foundation is designed well, the moisture from the ground won’t penetrate your building materials, making the building last for many years or even a lifetime. 

2. Shut Off Utilities During Calamities 

To prevent further damage, it’s vital to turn off utilities after a disaster. Gas, water, and electricity are usually shut off as a part of this procedure. If you live in a condominium or apartment, know where the switches and the power breakers are. The same tip is applicable when you’re working in an office or a tall commercial building and a disaster strikes.

Not only you, but the rest of your family members or office mates should know how to turn the utilities off. Plan and take action quickly to prevent loss of life and to protect your property. 

Turning Off The Gas

• Gas leaks and explosions cause many fires after and during disasters. Because of this reason, you must automatically turn off the gas whenever a calamity is bound to happen. The gas meter is usually found on the side of the house.

• If you’re unsure how to turn them off, it’s best to contact your local gas provider. They’ll provide you with calamity and disaster tips as well. 

• Don’t forget to educate the rest of the people living with you. It’s crucial that everyone know how to go about it when hurricanes or earthquakes occur.

• After a calamity is finished, don’t open the gas yourself. Wait or call your gas contractor so they can assess if it’s safe to turn on.

• If you feel like there’s some gas leaking from the valves, remember to evacuate everyone. This is very dangerous, and you shouldn't take it for granted.

Turning Off The Electricity 

• A leaky natural gas pipeline could ignite electrical sparks, as well as other flammable materials. Hence, it’s essential to switch off all the electrical circuit breakers.
• Find the location of your electrical circuit box. If you have individual circuit switches, don’t forget to turn them off before turning off the main breaker.
• Always have spare fuses in your home so you can easily replace your breakers if needed.
• As switches and breakers may seem confusing, it’ll help if you put some labels on them. This way, you’ll know which switch is for which area of the property.  

Turning Off The Water 

• When a calamity arises, some homes lose water supply right away. This is why it’s best to shut off the valve from your property. 
• Label this valve so you can identify it quickly in case of an emergency. Everyone in the household should know the location of the device. It’s best to check if the valves are easy to turn off so you won’t struggle when there’s a need to do so. 
• Don’t drink from the water supply during or after a calamity. Since there will be chances of contaminants seeping through your water lines, let your water services contractor check it first. 
• Try to conserve your water consumption during or after a calamity. You won’t know when the supply will recover again, so you’ll need to stock up more water for everyone's convenience.

3. Check And Update Your Home Insurance 

You may need to double-check your homeowners' insurance coverage for natural disasters, like fire, flood, and earthquake damage. There are some natural disasters, including flooding, that basic coverage may not cover. Before a calamity happens, it’s imperative to know what your home insurance is covering. 

Also, keep your insurance documents and policy numbers in a safe vault or any secure storage so no calamities can ruin and damage them. It’s also advisable to have a backup file or copy them on your cloud or in your email. 

4. Keep Your Appliances Safe 

Lighting strikes and short circuits can dramatically change the voltage in your home. When this happens, you’ll find that your appliances won't work anymore. So, to prevent this, make sure to keep your devices safe by unplugging them. If you’re expecting floods, thunderstorms, and heavy rain, it's best not to use appliances. 

You need to be more mindful of expensive appliances, like refrigerators and televisions. However, if you have many foods stocked in your fridge, you may use a surge protector so it won't be affected when voltages increase unpredictably. 

5. Clean Your Gutters 

A clogged gutter will cause hurricane rainwater to collect on your roof or near the foundation. Storms often cause enough water to accumulate that it may eventually leak through the roof, causing significant damage. 

To prevent this from happening, ensure that your gutters are free from debris and stocked leaves. When it’s already the flood season, hire professional gutter cleaners and inspectors so they can prepare your gutters for whatever calamity is approaching. This tip will save you many damages to your home's foundation and walls in the long run.

6. Consider Having Hurricane Shutters 

When deciding on the repairs to make so your home will be more secure, you should consider hurricane shutters. You can expect a lot of banging and debris are thrown away into your windows and exterior parts of your home. When you have hurricane shutters, you’ll feel extra safer from the inside as they can protect your windows.

This is important since a broken window will create a mess inside the home. For one, winds and water will seep inside, endangering everyone in your household. Also, the roof can lose its hinges as a result of the wind. In some states, homeowners who install hurricane shutters may qualify for discounted rates on their insurances. Metal or polycarbonate plastic are among the materials used for hurricane shutters. 

7. Check And Repair Roofing 

As a result of storms and tornadoes, your roof can be ripped apart by strong winds, causing shingles to become loose, missing, or damaged. Therefore, don’t wait for the rainy season to start, but start repairing your roofs now. You can hire professional roof experts to find holes and do the necessary patching. 

It's critical to patch the roof before a storm. Creating pre-disaster plans can serve as a means of supporting and sustaining efforts to mitigate damage and recover from disasters. It’s wise to prepare your roofs for any intense floods and hurricanes. So, use high-quality repair materials and tools. You’ll thank yourself for investing in it after your home survives a strong natural disaster. 

8. Add Impact Windows In Your Home Improvement 

Think about how a strong wind would shatter your windows if it hit them directly. In hurricane-force winds, you'll find any outdoor object tossed around and tree branches falling on your house. You can eliminate these costly losses by installing impact windows, which is an innovative home improvement that can save you money, mainly if your home is situated near the water. 

Homes that are located in these areas are prone to typhoons and hurricanes. This vulnerability is prompting more homeowners to invest in these windows. 

These impact windows are usually made with laminated glasses, which are sturdy enough to withstand vast and robust impacts. When looking for these windows, you can check out different home improvement stores and find a reasonably priced one. 

9. Trim Trees Near Your Property 

Branches can become dangerous projectiles when high winds snap them. Therefore, if there are nearby trees around your home, it’s best to trim them down. Doing so will ensure that they won’t be falling into your home. 

This is especially important if your home is located in a low-humidity area. This is because wildfires are commonplace in such areas since leaves and trees may be a possible cause of fires. Trees should be trimmed year-round and dead branches should be removed as soon as they become visible. 

Conclusion 

Make sure your home is protected before a natural disaster hits by following these nine simple steps. A few of these measures can be taken right away since it’s always better to save your home early. So, before the next hurricane or natural calamity strikes your area, you’re already prepared after going through the listed tips.