September is National Preparedness Month, an annual reminder to prepare for emergencies that can strike at any time. Tropical storms and hurricanes are just two of many potential emergencies that can hit the Roanoke area.
Your friends at Southern Trust Home Services, your Roanoke electrical experts, have some tips to help you plan for the worst. Start by sitting down with your family and discuss where you will all rendezvous in case of a disaster. Determine an evacuation route if you need to leave your home. You should assemble an emergency kit that contains items such as one gallon of water per person per day for both drinking and sanitation; three days of non-perishable food; a first aid kit; flashlight; hand tools; plastic sheeting and duct tape for shelter; and a cell phone with a charger and backup batteries. A comprehensive list of supplies for an emergency kit can be found at https://www.ready.gov.
Other tips:
- Sign up for local alerts and warnings, download apps, and/or check access for wireless emergency alerts.
- Create and test emergency communications plans for local hazards.
- Assemble or update emergency supplies, including a hand-crank radio, water, food for three days, batteries and flashlights.
- Collect and safeguard critical documents.
- Document property and obtain appropriate insurance for relevant hazards.
- Flooding can happen with little or no warning, so preparation needs to be constant. Make your home as watertight as possible before the rains come. Find out if your home or business is in a flood zone. Then check your insurance policy to see if you have or need flood insurance. If you have a basement, consider a sump pump.
When a significant storm is looming, keep an eye on a weather website so you don’t get surprised. Prepare in advance if it looks like you might have to evacuate. Shutter windows, secure outdoor objects, seal any cracks in outdoor surfaces and remove dead or dangerous trees.
But the most important part of National Preparedness Month is that to get you and your family talking and planning for an emergency so that you will all make it through safely. Family is the most important thing to those of us at Southern Trust Home Services. We’re here to help make sure your house is safe. Call (540) 343-4348 for more information about sump pump installation, electric inspections, and other safety measures.
