You work hard to make your home beautiful. However, a natural disaster has the potential to wreak havoc on your precious space. You may not be able to stop the power of nature; but you can prepare to make sure that your home and your family are as resilient as possible. Here are some tips and tricks to help.
Stock Up on Essentials 
If there’s a hurricane warning, groceries can be flooded with people trying to buy essential items. You can avoid this chaos by always keeping natural disaster essentials stocked up. Essentials include bottled water, non-perishable food items, power banks (to charge electronics), batteries, flashlights, a fire extinguisher, and a first aid kit.
Maintain Your Home
Life is so busy that it can be easy to put off home repairs. However, picture this: your roof is leaking, your guttering is clogged, and your garden is filled with large trees with hanging branches. All of these may be minor inconveniences in daily life, but they can lead to significant property damage if there is a natural disaster. And, depending on the natural disaster, you may not have the time to conduct repairs before it strikes. So, try to stay on top of repairs and keep your home as resilient as possible.
Stay Informed
While you can make some preparations in advance, there are some actions you’ll only take if a natural disaster is imminent. You’re not going to board up your windows every day, right? So, make sure that you’re able to get reliable information quickly. The Local TT mobile app, launched this year, gives real-time alerts and notifications about adverse weather conditions and other emergencies. You can also create a neighbourhood chat to share information. It’s a good idea to have ground rules for this chat — all information shared must be verified by an official source.
Double Check your Property Insurance
Don’t wait until after the flood to realise that your insurance doesn’t cover floods. Ask yourself: what type of property insurance do I have? Which perils are covered? Have I insured the contents of my house – like furniture, appliances, and household goods – or just the building itself? If you’re not happy with your insurance coverage, try to find an affordable option that gives you the protection you deserve.
Protect your Stuff
If a disaster is imminent, take steps to protect the things in your home. Important documents should be placed in a waterproof container and then stored in a fireproof safe. You can also consider scanning and saving copies of these documents digitally. If flooding is likely, elevate appliances above the level of flood water. If power surges are likely, invest in a surge protector or unplug appliances. If you have outdoor furniture, you may have to bring the items inside.
Create Water Barriers
In the instance of a hurricane or a flood, water can severely damage your property, your appliances, and your furniture. Sandbags are an effective way to prevent or reduce flood damage, by acting as a barrier to flood waters. Regional corporations throughout T&T provide sandbags free of charge, so check out the nearest location to you, and stock up on sandbags if you’re in a flood prone area.
While these tips are about keeping your home safe, there’s something more important than your home: you. If you do experience a natural disaster, remember that you and your family should not take any undue risks. You can make your home as strong and safe as it can be, but if that is not enough, remember that you can eventually rebuild a building and rebuy your things. But there is only one of you. Stay safe!
