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STRIKE BACK AT DISASTER

A major earthquake strikes, damaging your home. What to do? Fire has trapped your family upstairs. Can they escape? A hurricane's coming! What now? Disasters evolve quickly but there are steps we can take to better prepare ourselves.

First, become educated about the type of disaster your home is susceptible to. Everyone's under threat from disasters like fire, but where we live also impacts the type of disaster we're apt to encounter. Some areas are prone to hurricanes or tornadoes, while others are often threatened by quake or flood; and while there are no hard and fast rules as to the type of danger we MAY face, if we know that which we're LIKELY to face, the better prepared we'll be.

Next, if you're fortunate enough to have advance warning, is defending your home against damage. You can sandbag or have pumps ready if flooding is imminent. If a hurricane threatens, board your doors with windows and plywood. You can even lessen earthquake damage and danger by firmly securing tall and heavy objects.

Third, there are things we can learn about our homes to help mitigate damage afterwards. Knowing how to turn off natural gas at the meter (locate shutoff valve approx. 8in. off the ground, parallel with pipe-turn 1/4 turn either way using crescent wrench) could prevent fires or explosions after an earthquake. As well, understanding how to shut off electricity to your home at the main panel may prove very useful. Newer systems should have a main switch, while older systems may have multiple disconnects. Learn about yours. We should also know how to shut off the water. Follow your water line to where it enters your home and you should encounter a valve somewhere. Turn clockwise. If it's not there, the main shutoff could be out near the road in a meter pit. Again, familiarize yourself.

Lastly, and most importantly, is your family's safety and security. Host an escape drill every six months (when you check your smoke/CO2 detector's batteries) so everyone's clear on how to get out. If possible, devise a secondary route; escape ladders that hook on your windowsill can be purchased at many retailers.

If a natural disaster does strike you should have non-perishable food and clean water set aside, at least enough to last each household member three days. A first-aid kit, blankets, extra clothing, and a light could prove vital, along with tools and special needs: medications etc..

Many websites are devoted to disaster preparedness. Learn what to do and how to respond in a disaster so that you and your's remain safe. Knowledge is power.

Learn more about this author, John Hummel.
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