How to Prepare Your House for Natural Disasters

You're pretty sure that a fire, flood, earthquake, tornado, hurricane or other catastrophe will never happen to you. But you've got a nagging feeling that you should do something to secure your home in case of an unlikely disaster. These quick home-protection fixes will help you sleep better at night.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Spark Arrestor
• Water-heater Strap
• Cabinet Latches
• Smoke Detectors
• Storm Doors
• Anchoring Or Museum Wax
• Fireplace Screen
• Storm Shutters Or Precut Sheets Of 3/4-inch (2-cm) Plywood
• Weather-stripping
• Fire Extinguishers
• Bolts Or L-brackets
• Hurricane-rated Garage Door

For earthquakes

1. Fasten lamps, china and other small valuables to shelves or surfaces with puttylike anchoring or museum wax (available at hardware and home supply stores). This also works for crystal and ceramic objects if they're not too heavy.
2. Install latches on cabinet doors (to keep contents inside).
3. Use bolts or L-brackets to secure bookcases, china cabinets and other tall furniture to wall studs.
4. Secure your water heater to a wall stud with a water-heater strap.

For fires

5. Install fire extinguishers in the kitchen and any other rooms where a fire might ignite. The best fire extinguisher is an easy-to-handle 2-lb. (1-kg) or 5-lb. (2.5-kg) model. (See also How to Put Out a Kitchen Fire.)
6. Place smoke detectors in hallways, bedrooms, the laundry room, the furnace room and anywhere else a fire could ignite.
7. Use a fireplace screen to keep embers inside.
8. Have a spark arrestor installed in your chimney.

For floods, wind and rain

9. Install weather-stripping on and around doors and windows to prevent water from seeping into your home. See How to Fix a Drafty Door and How to Fix a Drafty Window.
10. Install storm shutters or create your own using precut sheets of 3/4-inch (2-cm) plywood cut to fit snugly in each window.
11. Install storm doors.
12. Consider replacing an older garage door with a hurricane-rated garage door.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't have a wall stud to screw into, secure furniture by using a toggle bolt (also known as a Molly bolt).

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